Barry Jenkins Archives - New Hip Hop News

Blue Ivy Carter is getting her due flowers for her growing portfolio, especially with one of her biggest projects yet on the way. Moreover, you probably already heard that Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter will make her acting debut in Mufasa: The Lion King this December. While many folks out there might assume that this was the result of some nepo baby shenanigans, the movie’s director Barry Jenkins reiterated that it’s about much more than that. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on August 12, he elaborated on why they picked her for the role of Kiara (Nala and Simba’s daughter).

“She did a wonderful job bringing this character Kiara to life,” Barry Jenkins remarked concerning Blue Ivy. “I’m really proud of her, really proud of the work she did. As we were thinking of who could play this character, I thought, ‘Oh, this is it. She’s the right age, the right vibe. Let’s test it out.’ She was just tremendous. There are some things she does in this film that are really emotional. She’s a thespian. [And the casting] had nothing to do with mom and dad. She was the right young woman for the job.”

Blue Ivy & Beyoncé Performing Together

Blue Ivy Lion King Director Barry Jenkins Comments Entertainment News — ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 11: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (L-R) Blue Ive Carter and Beyoncé perform onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood/Getty Images)

Furthermore, it’s easy to see why Blue Ivy has been so successful in her media endeavors so far, as her mother Beyoncé also gave her much advice on dealing with public scrutiny and focusing beyond the haters. “One of [Blue Ivy’s] friends came back and showed her some negative comments and it was a great life lesson,” Tina Knowles recalled. “Because her mom basically said, ‘Listen, if you let this get you down, then they won. So you should go and work harder. And, you know, just work harder and get your skills together and go out there and blast it.’

“So it actually worked in [Blue Ivy’s] favor because she was only supposed to do it one time,” Tina Knowles continued. “But now her mom was, that mama bear was on to it. It was like, she was like, ‘You go out there and kill it,’ and she did. She just grew so much from that experience.”

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Blue Ivy Carter held her own as a dancer on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, and she must have really enjoyed working with her mom — who wouldn’t when your mom is Beyoncé? — because the two are joining forces again for the Barry Jenkins-directed Mufasa: The Lion King.

The 90-second trailer released on Monday morning, April 29, featuring Beyoncé voicing Nala and 12-year-old Blue Ivy is voicing a brand-new character, Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter. According to the YouTube description, the prequel movie centers on Rafiki “to relay the legend of Mufasa” to Kiara, “with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.” Donald Glover reprises his voiceover role of Simba, and Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa.

“A buddy of mine, Matthew Cherry, made the short film called Hair Love that Blue Ivy did the audio book of,” Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly. “Starting this project and just having that in the ether, I was like, ‘Is it worth a shot? Would Blue Ivy want to do it? Would Beyoncé want to act opposite her daughter? Is it too close to home?’ But once we put the question to them, they both responded with enthusiasm.”

Jenkins added, “What’s crazy is we made the film, and then the Renaissance tour happened, and I think Blue really grew up over the course of that tour. So the Blue Ivy you see in this film, it’s like a time capsule, this very, very, very young stage of her life, and she got to share it with her mom. So, I thought there was some synergy. It could be beautiful.”

Watch the Mufasa: The Lion King trailer above.