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Blue Ivy Carter, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, has been announced as part of the voice cast for the upcoming prequel to The Lion King, titled Mufasa: The Lion King.
At 12 years old, Blue Ivy will be voicing the character Kiara, the daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala, a role previously portrayed by her mother, Beyoncé.
Beyoncé is returning to reprise her role from Jon Favreau's 2019 photorealistic remake of the classic 1994 animated film.
Directed by Barry Jenkins, known for his work on Moonlight, the new film will delve into Mufasa's backstory and his relationship with his brother Scar during their childhood.
Similar to the 2019 movie, Mufasa: The Lion King will utilize a blend of live-action filmmaking techniques and photoreal computer-generated imagery.
Speaking on the US breakfast show Good Morning America, Jenkins praised Blue Ivy's professionalism and highlighted Beyoncé's nurturing presence on set.
He stressed that their real-life mother-daughter bond translated naturally into their performances.
The teaser trailer for the film was also unveiled during the broadcast, teasing Mufasa's journey from humble origins to a pivotal role in the Lion King story.
In addition to Blue Ivy's role, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar, respectively.
The 2019 Lion King film featured the voices of Donald Glover, Beyoncé, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, among others. Glover will return to reprise his role in Jenkins's prequel.
Mufasa: The Lion King will also feature original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for his work on Hamilton and other film projects.
While this marks Blue Ivy's debut film role, she has previously showcased her talent as a dancer during her mother's live tours.
As the eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Blue Ivy's casting is sure to reignite discussions surrounding nepotism in the entertainment industry.
Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled for release in the UK in December of this year.
