Aaron Pierre, New Voice ofLion King's Mufasa, Previously Said James Earl Jones' Shoes 'Cannot Be Filled' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

James Earl Jones; Aaron Pierre.Photo:Walter McBride/WireImage; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Walter McBride/WireImage; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Aaron Pierremay be taking on the Mufasa mantle, but he knows there is only oneJames Earl Jones.

Calling Jones “one of my greatest inspirations,” the actor, 30, explained, “His work on the stage, film and television is just outstanding. There’s not a word available to my vocabulary to articulate howphenomenal he is as an artist.”

Pierre said it was a “massive privilege” to “have the opportunity to, in some small way, contribute to the role of Mufasa that [Jones] created and brought to life.”

“I hope [he’s] somewhere smiling, saying, ‘Good job,’ " he added in that interview.

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‘The Lion King’ (1994); ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ (2024).Disney (2)

Disney (2)

Set years before the events of the 1994 animated Disney classicThe Lion King, the prequel will take viewers through Mufasa’s origin story, including his friendships, relationships and pivotal events that led to his eventual reign as king of the Pride Lands.

Asked whether his view of Mufasa changed after voicing the character through the new backstory, Pierre told PEOPLE, “When we meet Mufasa in the 1994 original, we meet him in his … what might the word be? … his final form.”

“We meet him as this father, as this king, as this leader without knowing all of the trials and tribulations and hardships that he had to endure to get there,” he continued. “What’s really special aboutMufasa: The Lion Kingis that we get to see his childhood, and we get to see him discovering himself from this adolescent cub to this grown lion. There’s something really special about that. It allows the qualities of Mufasa to feel tangible, accessible and within reach.”

Pierre said he feels a personal “connection” to the “journey” aspect of Mufasa’s story in the film, explaining, “I see a parallel. It’s achievable.”

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James Earl Jones on Dec. 2, 1965.CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

Among Jones’Lion Kingfamily who paid tribute to him on Monday wasMatthew Broderick, the voice of adult Simba in the original. As he toldPEOPLE in an exclusive statement, in part, “I’m so lucky to have had a chance to work with James Earl Jones. To have had him play my father, my king! And to get to know him a little bit.”

“One of the very best of his or any generation,” added Broderick, 62. “A great American actor.”

James Earl Jones in 1962.CBS via Getty

Rob Minkoff, who co-directed the 1994 film, also told PEOPLE that Jones' “portrayal of Mufasa was absolute perfection, teaching a generation what fatherhood is all about.”

“I’m certain his powerful voice will continue rumbling through our living rooms keeping his spirit alive for years to come,” continued Minkoff, 62. “He lives in all of us.”

Mufasa: The Lion Kingis in theaters Dec. 20.

source: people.com