Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is prepared to voice Scar in the upcomingLion Kingprequel.
The actor, 28, who can currently be seen playing 18th-century French composer Joseph Bologne (often referred to as the “Black Mozart”) in the new biopicChevalier, will next show off his singing voice as Scar in Disney’s much-anticipatedMufasa: The Lion King, expected for release next year.
Moonlightfilmmaker Barry Jenkins wasannounced as the director of the filmin 2020. In a statement toDeadlineat the time, said, “Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters.”
He added, “Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true.”
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Harrison Jr.s knows he has big shoes to fill in taking over from Irons, telling PEOPLE, “It’s so tough because I’m so obsessed with Jeremy Irons' interpretation of that character.”
20th Century Studios
“Obviously the movie’s a prequel, so we’re kind of getting to see, who is Scar before we knew Scar?” he teases of the project. “And that’s been interesting trying to incorporate what we know of him while allowing there to be an arc. I’ll say that.”
The actor shares that he had auditioned for both Mufasa and Scar before landing the villainous role. (The Underground Railroadactor Aaron Pierre is voicing the title character.)
“I put more effort into the Scar because I wanted Scar more,” Harrison Jr. admits. “So I did the voice record and I was walking around my apartment on all fours like a lion, just really doubling down. And then I found out I got it and I was really just like … I couldn’t believe it.”
Chevalieris now playing in theaters.
source: people.com
