Aaron Pierre Melts The Internet During His ‘Jennifer Hudson Show’ Appearance

Source: Warner Bros. TV / Getty

The Lion King: Mufasa star Aaron Pierre set the internet ablaze with his irresistible dance moves during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. The 30-year-old actor, known for voicing Mufasa in the new Disney film, kicked things off with a playful shimmy, swaying his hips to the rhythm while flashing a confident smirk straight into the camera.

He then shared a few high-fives with the show’s staff, further igniting the crowd’s excitement. As Pierre danced, the Jennifer Hudson Show team cheered him on, chanting, “Aaron Pierre, That’s Mufasa!” in sync with his energy. The Hollywood heartthrob wrapped up his impromptu performance with a smooth twirl and a charming dip before laughing and strutting off-camera, leaving viewers swooning.

During his interview with Hudson, the Rebel Ridge star went into detail about his acting journey, revealing that his love for the stage emerged when he was 13 or 14. Pierre knew that he wanted to devote his life to acting after he scored a role in his school play, Moby Dick.

“I was a narrator and I remember stepping out to, I think it was bottom stage left, and I only had about three or four lines.Did my piece, went backstage, and I just remember feeling overwhelmed by this feeling of that is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” the 30-year-old hunk told Hudson. “All of these people in the audience, they’re grown folks. They have bills to pay. They have busy lives. None of them actually need to be here. They’ve chosen to be here. They’ve chosen to gift me with their time and I wanted to honor that for the rest of my life.”

Source: Warner Bros. TV / Getty

Aaron Pierre draws inspiration from his parents and the late James Earl Jones.

Pierre said he was “massively” inspired by his mother, a project manager, and father, who was an actor. According to the Hollywood standout, they had a “tremendous amount of passion” for their respective crafts. Through their wisdom and guidance, that passion poured into his role as Mufasa in the new installment of The Lion King. 

In the original 1994 film, Mufasa is portrayed as the wise and revered king, but Pierre highlights that his character’s backstory reveals a much harder journey—one where Mufasa overcame being orphaned, ostracized, and dismissed. Pierre found inspiration in this, noting that Mufasa’s resilience and ability to focus on what he could control in life to reach his position as king is a powerful message, especially for young audiences.

When asked about taking over the role from the legendary James Earl Jones, Pierre expressed deep respect and admiration for Jones, acknowledging the significant challenge of filling such iconic shoes. He revealed that Jones had been a source of inspiration for him long before he became a professional actor, both for his film work and stage presence, calling him the “top of the mountain.”

Watch Aaron Pierre’s full interview with Hudson below.

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