When Barry Jenkins announced he was taking on a prequel to the 2019 "photorealistic" remake of The Lion King, the internet had questions. Most of them were about how you make a movie about a dead king and his murderous brother without it feeling like a cash grab. But once the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King dropped, the conversation shifted. People stopped asking "why" and started asking about the voices. Specifically, who voices Scar in Mufasa?
If you were expecting Chiwetel Ejiofor to return or hoping for a digital resurrection of Jeremy Irons’ iconic 1994 sneer, you’re in for a surprise.
The crown—or the mane, I guess—has been passed to Kelvin Harrison Jr.
He isn't just "playing Scar." He’s playing Taka. That distinction matters more than you might think. In this film, we aren't seeing the bitter, frail schemer who threw his brother off a cliff. We’re seeing the prince who was once a brother, a friend, and a lion with a completely different name. Harrison Jr. has the massive task of showing us the "before." He has to make us believe that this lion could have been a hero, which makes the eventual turn to villainy hurt that much more.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is the New Voice of Scar
It's a bold choice. Harrison Jr. isn't exactly a household name for people who only watch summer blockbusters, but if you’ve followed indie cinema over the last five years, you know he’s a powerhouse. From his haunting performance in Luce to his work in Waves and Chevalier, the man has range.
He's young. He's soulful.
That’s exactly what Barry Jenkins needed for this version of the character. This isn't a story about a villain; it's a story about a relationship that falls apart. Harrison Jr. brings a vulnerability to the role that we’ve never seen in the franchise before. When we talk about who voices Scar in Mufasa, we are talking about an actor who specializes in internal conflict.
Honestly, the casting tells you everything you need to know about the tone of the movie. Jenkins didn't hire a voice actor known for "villainous" gravel. He hired a dramatic lead. He wanted someone who could sound like a brother.
The voice is smoother. It’s less affected. It doesn’t have that theatrical, Shakespearean camp that Jeremy Irons brought to the original animated classic. Instead, it feels grounded. It feels real. It’s the kind of voice that makes you forget you’re looking at a bunch of CGI pixels and makes you remember that this is a tragedy about family.
Why the Name Change to Taka Matters
You’ve probably heard the name "Taka" floating around if you’re a deep-lore Disney nerd. In the 1994 book series The Lion King: Six New Adventures, it was established that Scar’s birth name was Taka. In Swahili, "Taka" can mean "want" or "desire," but it can also mean "trash" or "rubbish."
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Talk about a rough childhood.
The movie seems to be leaning into this backstory. Harrison Jr. is voicing a character who is struggling with his identity long before he gets the physical scar that defines his future. This isn't just a voice acting gig; it's a character study. By the time the credits roll, we’ll likely understand exactly why Taka became Scar. It’s a bit like what Wicked did for the Witch or what Joker did for, well, the Joker.
It’s about the origin of the resentment.
Harrison Jr. has mentioned in interviews that he wanted to find the humanity in the character. He wasn't interested in playing a "bad guy." He was interested in playing someone who feels overlooked. We’ve all been there. You’re the second favorite. You’re the one standing in the shadow. Harrison Jr. captures that specific brand of hurt in his vocal performance.
Comparing the Scars: Irons, Ejiofor, and Harrison Jr.
Let's be real for a second. Every actor who steps into this role is living in the shadow of Jeremy Irons. His performance in 1994 is arguably the greatest Disney villain performance of all time. It was dripping with sarcasm and intellectual superiority.
Then came Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2019.
Ejiofor’s Scar was different. He was more of a military strategist. He was weathered and physically scarred in a way that suggested a lifetime of brutal fights. He wasn't "fun" like the 1994 version. He was scary.
Now, we have Kelvin Harrison Jr.
He is doing something entirely different because the timeline demands it. He has to sound like a lion who hasn't given up yet. There is a lightness in his voice that disappears as the movie progresses. If you listen closely to the trailers, you can hear the transition. It’s subtle. It’s the sound of a heart hardening.
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- Jeremy Irons: The Sophisticate. Pure theatricality.
- Chiwetel Ejiofor: The Usurper. Brute force and bitter history.
- Kelvin Harrison Jr.: The Brother. Empathy and eventual tragedy.
It is a fascinating progression. Usually, when a character is recast, it’s because of a reboot or a practical issue. Here, the recasting is a narrative tool. We need to hear the youth in Harrison Jr.’s voice to understand the loss of innocence that occurs in the Pridelands.
The Barry Jenkins Influence
You can't talk about who voices Scar in Mufasa without talking about the director. Barry Jenkins is the man behind Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. He doesn't do "shallow."
Jenkins has a knack for finding the beauty in the struggle.
By casting Harrison Jr., Jenkins is signaling that this movie is going to be an emotional heavyweight. The chemistry between Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre (who voices the young Mufasa) is the backbone of the entire film. They worked together on The Underground Railroad, so that shorthand is already there.
They sound like they belong together. They sound like family.
That makes the inevitable betrayal almost unbearable. When Mufasa calls him "brother," you can hear the genuine affection in Pierre's voice, and you can hear the complicated, messy response in Harrison Jr.'s performance. It’s a far cry from the "long live the king" moment we all grew up with.
What This Means for the Future of The Lion King
Disney is clearly trying to turn The Lion King into a cinematic universe of sorts. Whether we want that or not is a different debate, but from a technical and artistic standpoint, Mufasa is swinging for the fences.
The choice of voice talent suggests a shift toward prestige drama.
They aren't just hiring big names for the sake of the poster. They are hiring actors who can carry a heavy emotional load. Harrison Jr. is a critical darling. He brings a certain level of "prestige" to a project that could have easily felt like a retread of old ground.
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He is making Scar—sorry, Taka—relatable.
That is a dangerous game to play. If we sympathize with the villain too much, does it ruin the original movie? Probably not. If anything, it adds layers. When you go back and watch the 1994 version after seeing Mufasa, the scene at the gorge is going to hit differently. You won't just see a villain killing a hero. You'll see Taka killing the only person who truly knew him.
It’s dark. It’s heavy. It’s Shakespearean in the best way.
Understanding the Casting Legacy
For those keeping track of the full cast, the movie is a mix of returning legends and new blood.
- Aaron Pierre replaces James Earl Jones (and Donald Glover) as the voice of young Mufasa.
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. takes over for Chiwetel Ejiofor.
- Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner are back as Pumbaa and Timon, providing the much-needed levity.
- John Kani returns as Rafiki, the narrator of this prequel.
- Blue Ivy Carter joins her mother, Beyoncé (Nala), playing the role of Kiara.
It is a massive ensemble. But the core—the absolute heart of the film—is the Mufasa/Taka dynamic. If that doesn't work, the movie fails. Based on early reactions and the pedigree of the actors involved, it’s looking like one of the most vocally rich Disney films in years.
Next Steps for Fans
To truly appreciate what Kelvin Harrison Jr. is bringing to the role, you should check out his previous work. Watch Waves (2019) or Luce (2019) to see how he handles characters who are simmering with internal pressure. It will give you a much better perspective on the choices he makes in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Once you’ve done that, go back and watch the original 1994 "Be Prepared" sequence. Pay attention to the lyrics. "I was first in line... until the little hairball was born." This prequel is the direct explanation of that resentment.
Keep an eye out for the official soundtrack release. Harrison Jr. has a musical background, and hearing how he interprets the "sound" of a young Scar through song will likely be the highlight of the film's audio experience. If he brings even half the intensity he brought to his stage-focused roles, we are in for a definitive performance.
The movie is more than a prequel. It is a recontextualization of Disney’s most famous rivalry. Understanding who voices Scar in Mufasa is the first step in realizing that this isn't the same story you think you know. It's Taka's story now. Let's see if we're ready for it.