Long before he learned who James Earl Jones was, Aaron Pierre felt a deep connection to him.

In the Disney prequel “Mufasa: The Lion King,” Pierre portrays a younger version of Mufasa, a role made legendary by Jones in the original 1994 animated film “The Lion King.” Pierre, originally from London, recalls seeing the movie at the age of 3 or 4 and feeling an emotional resonance with Jones’ voice, which conveyed warmth, love, strength, and clarity.

“He really is the king. I feel incredibly honored to play even a small part in continuing that legacy,” he shared.

James Earl Jones, who passed away on September 9 at the age of 93, was a constant presence in the minds of the cast and creators of “Mufasa.” The film opens with a tribute card stating, “In remembrance of James Earl Jones,” featuring his iconic voice delivering lines from the original movie. He also lent his voice for the character in the 2019 remake.

Director Barry Jenkins emphasized the significance of Jones to the “Lion King” legacy and to countless fans. “We wanted to show right from the start how integral James Earl Jones is to this story and the generations of audiences it has touched. This is the spirit guiding our film,” he explained.

Jenkins, who grew up without a conventional father figure, reflected on a scene from the original film where Mufasa endangers himself to save his son, Simba. “That moment is etched into the memories of many children and adults across cultures and languages. To me, he has always represented greatness, leadership, and a noble life defined by actions, not just titles,” he remarked.

Aside from his role in “The Lion King,” Jones is well-known for his performances in films like “Coming to America,” “Field of Dreams,” and the “Star Wars” series, as well as for his distinguished work in theater. Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of “Hamilton,” who contributed new songs for “Mufasa,” finds Jones’ theatrical achievements particularly inspiring.

Miranda recalls many encounters with Jones, but his most cherished memory is when they shared a van ride from New York City to Washington in 2009, where they performed at a poetry and music event hosted by President Barack Obama. Jones recited a monologue from Shakespeare’s “Othello,” while Miranda introduced the first song from what would evolve into “The Hamilton Mixtape,” a production that led to his immensely successful Broadway show.

“That day stands out as one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had,” Miranda reflects. “I would make it a point to attend his Broadway performances because he would always remember my anxiousness from that day. Despite his commanding presence and immense talent, he was incredibly playful. He embodied characters like Darth Vader, Mufasa, and the king of Zamunda—all with distinct energy.”

Pierre shares a deep admiration for Jones’ theatrical legacy. He once witnessed Jones perform alongside Vanessa Redgrave in “Much Ado About Nothing” at London’s Old Vic Theatre in 2013. “It was a magical experience to see him perform live. His presence fills the entire room; it’s tangible,” Pierre expressed. “Even before I became a professional, I drew a significant amount of inspiration from him. He has always represented the pinnacle of achievement to me.”

Pierre’s admiration runs so deep that he claims he has “likely contributed two-thirds of the views” to a YouTube clip showing Jones in a powerful performance alongside Courtney B. Vance in the 1987 Broadway production of August Wilson’s “Fences.”

“I’ve watched that clip repeatedly, analyzing the nuances, the details, the way he strikes his chest and the reasons behind it. His stillness belies an energy that feels like he’s alive on stage,” Pierre noted. “That’s the essence of his artistry.”