Kelvin Harrison Jr. Teases His Version of Scar in Mufasa: The Lion King

Kelvin Harrison Jr Reveals How He Developed His Own Version of Scar in Mufasa The Lion King — Kelvin Harrison Jr. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Pictures

Kelvin Harrison Jr. is able to present followers an entire new model of the long-lasting Disney villain Scar.

The actor, 30, solely instructed Us Weekly that he initially approached his position in Mufasa: The Lion King with Jeremy Irons’ unique portrayal of Scar in thoughts till he was given some steering by director Barry Jenkins.

“I initially did need to are available in and simply do, like, a copy-paste, and [Barry] was like, ‘Nicely we bought to develop an arc for him, and simply make certain we perceive what that brotherhood was and what that love for one another seems to be like,’” Harrison Jr. instructed Us on the EBONY Energy 100 Gala on November 17.

A prequel to the 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King, Mufasa: The Lion King tells the story of how Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Scar, whose actual identify is Taka, turned brothers and eventual rivals. Irons, 76, lent his voice to the unique 1994 animated movie, whereas Chiwetel Ejiofor took over the villainous position within the revamped model.

Scar’s notable British accent is one thing Harrison Jr. put loads of consideration into, telling Us he needed to dial again his voice “increasingly and extra to discover a baseline.” He defined: “I reference gumbo rather a lot as a result of I’m from New Orleans, so I take into account it’s just like the roux, what I imply? I’m out oiling my flour and that’s the place the baseline [is], after which I begin placing in my celery and my seasonings — and that’s when Jeremy Irons turns into Jeremy Irons. There will likely be a second the place it turns into a bit bit extra recognizable.”

Whereas a lot of the movie’s plot stays beneath wraps, Harrison Jr. says followers will “get to grasp why Scar is the grump uncle he’s,” in addition to hear “loads of new music.”

“I keep in mind getting the e-mail that there’s a brand new ‘Hakuna Matata’ and I used to be like, ‘What?’ So, that’s fairly cool,” he shared. “It’s going to be a enjoyable expertise. Barry Jenkins is making a film concerning the legend Mufasa, every thing we anticipate.”

Whereas “Can You Really feel the Love Tonight” stays his go-to tune from the unique Lion King movie, Harrison Jr. teased {that a} new observe from the Mufasa: The Lion King has turn out to be a private favourite.

“In our film, ‘I At all times Needed a Brother’ is a banger,” he instructed Us. ‘The youngsters killed that one. And [I like] ‘He Lives in You’ from the Broadway model.” (A Broadway rendition of The Lion King hit the stage in 1997.)

With one month till the film hits theaters, Harrison Jr. is feeling grateful for “kindness and group” heading into the following chapter of his profession. “This can be a laborious job and it will get more durable yearly, and the world will get extra sophisticated yearly,” he acknowledged. “So, having folks that you just belief and love which might be searching for you, and even once they’re not in the perfect place, they’re nonetheless displaying up for you in ways in which they couldn’t even think about. That’s love, and the way I reciprocate that. In order that’s the largest lesson I’ve realized and that retains me going.”

Mufasa: The Lion King additionally sees the return of a number of stars of 2019’s The Lion King, together with Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, Billy Eichner as Timon, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and John Kani as Rafiki. New solid additions embody Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Keith David as Masego and Anika Noni Rose as Afia.