Aaron Pierre on Taking Over Mufasa for James Earl Jones: "I Hope I Was Able to Make Him Proud" | THR Video - video Dailymotion

The Hollywood Reporter

Aaron Pierre chats with The Hollywood Reporter at the 'Mufasa: The Lion King' premiere and dishes on playing the role of Mufasa and stepping into James Earl Jones' shoes. Hear why he calls James a "hero" of his since the very beginning.

Transcript

00:0030 years from the original, what was it like stepping into this universe?

00:06Wow, just a gift.

00:10It's just been a beautiful gift and a blessing that is not missed on me.

00:15And I feel very grateful to be having the opportunity,

00:19to have had the opportunity to contribute to this legacy in any way that I can.

00:24What was it like for you?

00:26Because now we're learning a little bit more about the brotherhood between you

00:29and Scar, so what was that like kind of tapping into that side of Mufasa?

00:34Wow, I think for me one of the most beautiful

00:39components of this film is the exploration

00:46of the personal relationships within our lives.

00:50How do we preserve them? How do we nurture them?

00:53How do we value them in the way that is entirely necessary in order to maintain

00:58them? That's one of the themes that is very

01:00important to me and is very present in this film.

01:03And I'm excited for people to engage with that element of it.

01:08I'm absolutely excited and I know you said that Mufasa has been such a pillar,

01:12like you described him as a pillar in previous interviews.

01:15So now that this origin story is taking place, what have you learned about him?

01:18And what words would you use to describe him now?

01:22Well, I mean, I will always say that Mufasa is

01:26a pinnacle of strength and love and community.

01:32And I discovered that not only is that true, but I now have a

01:37deeper belief in that because I understand where he originated. He was

01:42separated from his pride, he was an orphan,

01:46he was ostracized, he was degraded, dismissed, and despite all of this

01:50he is still keeping that at the forefront of his mind and I

01:55think that's a beautiful thing. I love that. And James Earl Jones, I know

02:00you once mentioned he was an inspiration for you. What was it like

02:03stepping into his shoes for this role? James Earl

02:08Jones is a hero of mine, of course within the context of Mufasa

02:11the Lion King, but he has been a hero of mine from the

02:14very beginning, way before I even turned professional. He is the top of the

02:18mountain. So I hope that I was able to serve the

02:21character that he originated and I hope that I was able to make him

02:24proud. And lastly, what do you want families and kids to get out of this one?

02:29Honestly, whatever they take away from it is their truth.

02:32I just hope that people experience a joyful experience

02:36and have a wonderful time this holiday season, whether they see it with their

02:39loved ones or on their own.

Aaron Pierre on Taking Over Mufasa for James Earl Jones: "I Hope I Was Able to Make Him Proud" | THR Video

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