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How “Mufasa” came to be, with the voices of Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy and new music by Lin-Manuel Miranda

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SAN DIEGO (AP) – When Aaron Pierre was solid as Mufasa, the burden of following in the legendary footsteps of the late James Earl Jones was enough to make any actor sway. But as a substitute of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion form.

“I had a lot of nerves, and I think those nerves served me because that’s what the teenage version of that lion is like,” Pierre said in an interview Friday at San Diego Safari Park about his starring role in the film “Mufasa: The Lion King.” He took the reins as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in the 1994 and 2019 Disney versions of “The Lion King.”

Here are some details and observations about “Mufasa” ahead of its December 20 theatrical release.

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First, a tribute to James Earl Jones

Jones’ voice is just not heard in the film, but it surely opens with a brief tribute to the beloved actor who died in September.

Pierre had hoped to meet Jones for the first time, but he didn’t have the opportunity. Now he’s determined to honor his idol by constructing on his character’s legacy.

“I imagine a person experiencing things like this can have moments of uncertainty, and I wasn’t sure about myself,” he said. “Aaron wasn’t sure if Aaron was into it. I attempted to channel these emotions quite than being something that held me back, as something that pushed me forward. I gave it my all. I hope I used to be able to serve James Earl Jones and honor James Earl Jones and the character.

Mufasa’s touching origin story

The live-action prequel offers a fresh tackle Mufasa’s origins.

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after events in the film 2019, Rafiki plays the story-telling sage, weaving Mufasa’s untold story for Kiara – Mufasa’s spirited granddaughter and daughter of Simba and Nala. The duo of Timon and Pumbaa stay with Rafiki’s flashbacks.

Rafiki discovers that Mufasa’s childhood is just not all about royal freedom and sunny horizons. After the heartbreaking tragedy of being separated from his parents, young Mufasa finds himself lost and alone.

“He was separated from his family. He is an orphan. He was rejected, fired. He was demoted,” said Pierre, a British actor who starred in the film “Genius: MLK/X” Series. and Netflix motion hit “Rebel Ridge”.

Mufasa was homeless until fate led him to Taka, the compassionate heir of one other pride. Taka, along with his fierce but caring mother, offers the displaced cub a new starting of their pride.

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Over the years, Mufasa and Tak’s bond grows from camaraderie to brotherhood. However, their loyalty is put to the ultimate test during a journey that discovers Mufasa’s true origins and rightful kingdom, in addition to the explanation why Taka became Scar.

“Taka kind of relaxed on the privileges that he had,” said Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays Taka. He drew inspiration from Jeremy Irons, who voiced the villainous Scar in the 1994 original.

“It’s kind of like, ‘Well, looks like I need some attention,’” continued Harrison, who starred in “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Waves.” “It seems the only way to defeat any pride is to assert dominance. It was Tak’s version that ultimately became the basis for Scar’s role.

Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy makes her feature film debut

Beyonce she can have a small role in “Mufasa,” but her daughter Blue Ivy Carter is the predominant star of the family in the film.

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s eldest daughter makes her feature film debut, lending her voice to the role of Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala, played by her star mother.

“She came into it prepared,” said director Barry Jenkins, who heard Blue Ivy narrate in the audiobook of “Hair Love” by Oscar winner Matthew Cherry. He said the 12-year-old phenom showed some skills that couldn’t be ignored.

“She was the main character, and the whole movie starts with the voices,” Jenkins said. “They do it almost like a radio play, and hearing that quality in her voice, I thought, ‘Oh, I think that’s my character,’” he continued. “Then she went to the audition and it became clear that she was my character.”

While recording for Kiara’s character, Jenkins said Blue Ivy, who won a Grammy for co-writing her mom’s 2019 hit “Brown Skin Girl,” was knowledgeable.

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“I don’t know Blue Ivy’s life, but I imagine she grows up a little differently than everyone else,” he said. “I think that’s why she became an adult and had a whole lot of understanding and experience and emotional knowledge that she brought to the character. She was amazing.”

Jenkins compares Kiara’s character to many of the children who will see the film. In the film, she listens eagerly as John Kani’s Rafiki tells her grandfather’s origin story while Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) accompany them to the cave.

“They see themselves in the character, and she learns Mufasa’s story,” Jenkins said. “She learns that he went through the same trials and tribulations, the same growth, as she did.”

Blue Ivy didn’t record her vocals with the three solid members, but Rogen praised her skills.

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“She was great,” he said. “I could have sworn we were in that cave with her.”

Why is Michelle Obama's 'Later Daters' the most popular series on Netflix?

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s secret ingredient

When Lin-Manuel Miranda when writing new songs for the film, he often referred to Billie Jean King’s famous quote: “Pressure is a privilege.”

Miranda took on the challenge of leaving her own mark on this famous series, identical to her predecessors. He said the soundtrack, which shall be released on December 13, will feature seven new songs.

“I was emboldened by the fact that there is an original from 1994 that is like an immortal classic,” said Miranda, the creator of “Hamilton” and winner of Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards.

“But there may be also Broadway musical there may be also Beyoncé’s album “The Lion King: The Gift”, which for my part expanded the musical vocabulary of what could possibly be called a “Lion King” song. So I felt like there was quite a bit of room to create because I felt like The Lion King was practically a genre of music where there was room to mess around and find new things in it.

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Miranda said its “secret ingredient” was Lebo M, known for his opening vocals on the classic tune “Circle of Life”. He said his lyrics were inspired by the script.

“I think his harmonies and choral arrangements that he created for the Broadway musical and for this show were instrumental in the success of the scores for these films,” Miranda said. “I think it was exciting for him to work on new songs.”

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Entertainment

Kamala Harris “60 minutes” The interview has an emmy nomination regarding the Trump lawsuit

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From the dispute about the courtroom to the longed -for Emma nomination, the “60 minutes” interview with Kamala Harris pays fresh attention this week. On Thursday, the segment with the participation of the former vp was nominated for the “outstanding edited interview”.

The same interview was at the center of the ongoing dispute of President Trump with the information network. In November 2024, Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS, claiming that the interview was “insidious” and “documented” to make his opponent look good.

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“The matter we have on the basis of 60 minutes, CBS and Paramount is a real winner. They deceived and deceived the American nation on levels, never seen before in the political arena,” wrote Trump in Post on social truthHis social media platform. “60 minutes and his corporate parents, so that this would not have a negative influence on her, remove and remove the entire answer of Kamali, each word, and replaced it with a answer, which she later gave a completely different question. 60 minutes committed a gigantic fraud against the American nation, federal electoral commission and a federal communication system.”

Although CBS has transferred transcription, in keeping with the request of the Federal Communication Commission, CBS remains to be in the face of Harris’s intelligence evaluation.

According to reports, the CBS parent company, Paramount Global, allegedly working on reaching a settlement with the Trump administration, despite the undeniable fact that many journalists oppose this concept. In addition, the “60-minute” executive manufacturer, Bill Owens, gave up attributable to corporate restrictions imposed on him after the controversies of Harris’s intelligence.

Unfortunately, CBS is considered one of the many organizations to which Trump’s administration aimed during the first 100 days. On the same day, “60 minutes” was nominated, Trump signed a contract executive order Directing the corporation to public broadcasts to “stop federal funds for NPR and PBS.”

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Trump signs the executive ordinance directing federal financing cuts for PBS and NPR

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Watch: Starz drops the new trailer of the “BMF” season – Essence

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Watch: Starz drops a new trailer and key art until season 4

Thanks to the kindness of old.

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Today, Starz Network officially released a high -octane trailer and striking key art in the 4th hit season, which returns on Friday, June 6. Together with new enemies, deeper betrayals and broken brotherhood at the base, this season guarantees to be the most thrilling.

In the 90s, the fourth season of Brothers Meech and Terry Flenory was surprised, expand their criminal empire outside Detroit, setting his eyes on a hip-hop scene in Atlanta. With the launch of the new music label, the Flenory brothers not only diversify their activities – they attract more heat. When they develop their domestic trace, personal and skilled tension between siblings begins to achieve the boiling point, threatening the bond that built the Black Mafia family.

The trailer reveals the return of some friends’ friends – and the arrival of new threats. The winner of Emma, ​​Michael Chiklis, joins the forged as an agent Taylor, the relentless officer of Dea decided to bring BMF. Eric Kofi-abref as Lamar, the most unpredictable enemy of the Flenra brothers, to whom his cousin Alvin, played by a graduate of Donnell Rawlings joined the most unpredictable enemy of the Flenora brothers, also the most unpredictable enemy.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8e0twij74y

Demetrius Flenory Jr. He repeats his role in Meech, presenting the man he called, and Da’vinchi returns as Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. Together they encounter pressure to implement law enforcement agencies, competing crews and one another. Along with the events of last season to Mexico are still approaching large, trust becomes rare – and survival is much more uncertain.

The newly published key art visually emphasizes the growing division between the brothers. Pla artwork with a pointy division in the center reflects the expanding gap in loyalty, vision and ambition. As their empire develops, there’s a similarly emotional distance between them.

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Executive produced by Curtis “50 cents” Jackson, still combines a strict history with a drama with high rates. With Randy Huggins, Heather Zuhlke and a strong production team, the fourth season guarantees to supply an explosive chapter in the ongoing saga of one of the most infamous families in America.

He returns on Friday, June 6 to Starz. The episodes will likely be streaming every week on Fridays via the STAZ and Air application at 21:00 et/PT on network line platforms in the USA and Canada.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Churches outraged when Pastor John Gray confession bedrooms about his wife

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Pastor John Gray raised greater than just a few eyebrows, with his last performance in Podcastie “Road Future Wifey”, where he shared surprisingly intimate details about his marriage.

A special episode of the fifth anniversary, hosted by Laterras R. Whitfield at Love Story Church in Greenville, South Carolina, gathered a guest list to speak about love and relationships, including Pastor Gray and Aventter Gray, actors KJ Smith and Skyh Black, artist David Banner and experts Tiara Walton, Arian Simone and Dr. Rick Applewite.

Pastor John Gray is under fire after sharing intimate details about his love life, which he shares with his wife into Podcast. (Photo Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)

The celebration combined these influential voices to find the topics of affection, healing and faith through personal stories and reflections on the evolution of their understanding of relationships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfgohwwyydu

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The episode included cordial letters to future spouses, unexpected guests’ performances and tribute to unforgettable moments that shaped the heritage of susceptibility, reconstruction and hopes of the podcast.

He also assured the controversial pastor John Gray to speak about his life, profession and relationship.

At some point Gray put all of it on the table.

“I did badly. I ran against marriage. But more than I sinned against my upbringing. I ran against my own weddings, my personal moral code,” Gray admitted in the course of the podcast. “Black women raised me who were hurt by black men and I became what I hated.”

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The preacher continued his emotional revelation, dividing the hopes for the longer term of his son.

“My son will be a better person than me. He will be all. He will be free. He will be a faithful husband who will not be verbally or sexually infidel in his marriage,” he said before he pays attention to his wife with a press release that can soon ignite social media.

Instagram ITS_ONSITE published a clip during which he said: “This woman is the only woman in which I was inside. And when I am thirsty. I drink her. I stopped trying things that did not belong to me.”

The pastor confirmed his ongoing internal struggles, stating that “it will always be the basis”, that he must proceed to fight, describing it as a part of himself, which can not disappear.

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Gray later explained that this “basic nature” was a “tactic of survival”, which he developed as a baby, which he’s now learning to manage through counseling.

ITS_ONSITE observers weighed In the intimate declaration of Gray.

“Sorry, I’m begging your damn pasting passt? Things that we didn’t have to know … It’s !!!” He wrote one shocked commentator.

Another admitted: “I have a second hand shame”, while the third felt that the pastor “should have been gathered immediately.”

Some Gray weapons, with one supporter noticing: “You have to understand the pastor, they are real people who have the same thought that yes.”

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Another simply commented: “I bless you, Lord, because I can’t judge !!”

Gray, who gained importance as an associate pastor within the church of Joel Osteen Lakewood in Houston, maintained a major public profile through his television performances in his own reality show “The Book of John Gray” and his role because the principal pastor Brentless Church in Greenville from 2018.

His sincere discussions on faith, masculinity and mental well -being on various media platforms put him as a related voice in relation to some in religious and cultural space.

Although he has many awards, this isn’t the primary time Gray faced public control.

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In March 2019, he referred to the accusations of infidelity, admitting to “emotional romance”, while denying any physical commitment.

“I did not sleep with anyone. There is no child, none of this,” he said during a sermon in a tenacious church, although many expressed skepticism online.

The situation intensified when Gray’s friend allegedly threatened with journalists in Greenville News for reporting a scandal, saying “Cuta of people.”

Gray later distanced himself from these threats, stating that he didn’t accept intimidation and that the person didn’t have an official role in his church.

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In July 2022, Gray faced a health crisis when he was hospitalized with the life -threatening of pulmonary embolism and lots of blood clots.

Initially treated on the ICU in Alabama, before he was transferred to Atlanta, serious fear of health prompted her wife Aventter, to demand prayers from followers, declaring “without premature death” and generated significant support from fans and other leaders of religion.

Pastor John Gray and his wife clearly went through the hearth – and lived to explain him. In Podcastie they kept him real, sharing their truth with harsh honesty. He still has this hearth, as Jeremiah locked himself in his bones – not just for the Lord, but for his wife. While the critics invaded one in every of his daring remarks, Aventter didn’t blink. Smiling gently, stood strongly – indefinite and constant – still next to him.

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This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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