Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, has joined the voice cast of Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to The Lion King.
Blue Ivy, 12, is portrayed by her mother as Kiara, the daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala.
In Jon Favreau’s 2019 photorealistic reimagining of the 1994 animated film, Beyoncé is playing the same part.
Barry Jenkins, the director of Moonlight, is helming a new movie that delves into Mufasa’s early life and his upbringing with his brother Scar.
It will blend photorealistic computer-generated graphics with live-action filmmaking techniques, just like the 2019 picture.
Beyoncé was a “mum first” on set, according to Jenkins, who also said that Blue Ivy was “professional” on the US breakfast show Good Morning America.
“They just approached it that they both wanted to perform and do the best they could. And yet, they didn’t have to pretend very much because they really are mother and daughter.”
The first teaser trailer for the film also aired on the program.
A voiceover says Mufasa was born “without a drop of nobility in his blood” but “would change our lives forever”.
December release
Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr will voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar, respectively, in the new movie.
The 2019 Lion King film, featured the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar.
Glover will reprise his role in Jenkins’s prequel. The cast also includes Mads Mikkelsen and Thandiwe Newton, with Seth Rogan and Billy Eichner also returning.
The movie will feature original songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has also penned songs for films including Mary Poppins Returns and Encanto.
While this is Blue Ivy’s debut film role, she has performed previously as a dancer on her mum’s live tour.
Blue Ivy is the eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The couple also share twins Rumi and Sir, six.
Her casting will no doubt relight the debate about so-called nepo babies.
The term refers to suggestions of nepotism when a young person follows in their famous parents’ footsteps.
Source: BBC