Walt Disney Japan Co., Ltd. will release the movie “The Lion King: Mufasa” in theaters simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on Friday, December 20. Among the Japanese cast of voice actors, our beloved Genta Matsuda of Travis Japan has been cast as Taka (the young Scar)! This will be Genta’s first time taking on a voice acting role. All the members celebrated with him and shared their joy with congratulatory messages and high-fives!
The epic African landscape sets the stage for the story of “The Lion King,” an extraordinary saga themed around “life” that has excelled in film, theater, and music. Originally released as an animated film in 1994, “The Lion King” swept numerous film and music awards, mesmerizing audiences worldwide with its miraculous visuals, stunning songs, and deeply moving story. It later evolved into the hyper-realistic version in 2019, surpassing “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” to become Disney’s highest-grossing film of all time. It continues to reign as the king of entertainment.
The film “The Lion King: Mufasa,” set for release on December 20, tells the story of King Mufasa, who protected his son Simba at the cost of his own life, and his younger brother Taka (the young Scar), the villain who later took Mufasa’s life. It shows the bond between the brothers in their early years, before the events of “The Lion King.”
King Mufasa, who risked his life to protect his son Simba, had his fate forever changed by an encounter in his youth with Taka (later Scar), the “villain” who would take his life.
On his journey to protect the pride from a cold-hearted enemy lion and seek a new homeland, Mufasa transforms from an orphan to a king, with Taka (later Scar) playing a key role in shaping his destiny. Despite not being blood-related, they formed a brotherly bond.
“Because you were there, I became stronger.”
What is the surprising “secret” behind the bond that made Mufasa a great king? Set to soul-stirring music, this hyper-realistic version captures the king of entertainment!
In the 2019 hyper-realistic version of “The Lion King,” Scar, who took the life of Simba’s father, King Mufasa, made a powerful impression as the villain. This film will depict Scar’s younger days when he was still known as Taka.
Genta made his worldwide streaming debut as a member of Travis Japan on October 28, 2022. Besides acting in films and dramas, like “The Blue Skies at Your Feet (2022)”, “The Date of Marriage (2023)“ and recently the 2024 remake of “Tokyo Tower,” he has leveraged his natural character in variety shows, and his outstanding singing ability, with a sweet voice that ranges from high to low, has also been praised.
This is a different role from Genta’s usual self, and anticipation is high to see how he will portray this important character, who will form a brotherly bond with Mufasa beyond blood ties and ultimately change Mufasa’s fate.
Travis Japan is currently holding its first world tour, “Travis Japan World Tour 2024 Road to A,” traveling across six cities worldwide. Genta received the news that he had been chosen to play Taka just before the Taipei performance, in the dressing room. When the staff made the surprise announcement to all the members gathered in their concert costumes, Genta stood up and pumped his fist in excitement, unable to hide his surprise at the sudden news.
Make sure to watch the video to see his and the member’s reaction to the announcement! It also gives us a teaser of what’s to come!
This is Genta’s first time as a voice actor, and he commented, “I want to enjoy it thoroughly, face it sincerely, and do my very best to deliver Taka to many people. I would be happy if you could warmly watch over me!” He also sent an enthusiastic message to Ukon Onoue, who was recently announced as the voice of Mufasa, saying, “This will be my first time meeting him, so I am very excited. Although I am inexperienced, I will give my all and enjoy acting alongside him, and I hope to learn a lot!”
Let’s also pay attention to what kind of brotherly bond Ukon and Genta will show as Mufasa and Taka!
Full Comment by Genta
“This time, I have been given the opportunity to voice Taka, who becomes Scar, the “villain” that takes Mufasa’s life in “The Lion King.” Since this is my first voice acting job, I will approach it with a sincere attitude and, above all, enjoy it as much as possible, doing my utmost to bring the beginning story of “The Lion King” to many people.
I would be very happy if you could warmly watch over me. Also, I will be working with Ukon Onoue, who plays Mufasa, for the first time, and since we play brothers, I believe there will be many conversations between us in the film, so I’m really looking forward to it.
Though I may be inexperienced, I will give it my all, fully enjoy acting, and hope to learn a lot from the experience. I will do my best! Thank you very much for your support!”
■ Title: “The Lion King: Mufasa”
■ Credit: © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
■ Release Date: In theaters nationwide on Friday, December 20
■ Distributor: Walt Disney Japan