AP Breakthrough Entertainer: Aaron Pierre ends his big year on a high note with ‘Mufasa’

LOS ANGELES — Aaron Pierre is closing out his big year on a literal high note. After donning Malcolm X’s distinctive browline glasses in the “Genius: MLK/X” series and getting his modern-day Rambo on in the Netflix action hit “Rebel Ridge,” the 30-year-old English actor showcases his vocal talents in “Mufasa: The Lion King.” To deliver as the titular regal lion, Pierre trained under Lin-Manuel Miranda in what he calls a “wonderful singing boot camp.” “My voice was doing things I never imagined it could do. After watching Pierre play Cassio in the Globe Theatre’s “Othello,” Jenkins cast him as Caesar in “The Underground Railroad.” The small part grew and grew after Pierre arrived on set in Atlanta. GET TO KNOW AARON PIERRE AGE: 30 HOMETOWN: London FIRST ROLE: “Prime Suspect 1973,” a 2017 British detective series that featured Pierre in two episodes YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM: Playing an introverted rapper named Mid-Sized Sedan in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old” 2024 IN REVIEW: Two face-offs with Kelvin Harrison Jr.: “Genius: MLK/X” and “Mufasa: The Lion King,” plus “Rebel Ridge” WHAT’S NEXT: Playing an artist who hobnobs with the elite on Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show,” then investigating intergalactic crime on HBO’s superhero series “Lanterns.” IF YOU SEE HIM IN THE STREET: Don’t be shy about approaching him about his past projects: “That’s one of the most rewarding feelings you can ever have as a creative person.” “Any time I speak with her, any time I’m present with her, I feel safe. “I don’t know that there’s anything frivolous about Aaron Pierre, even in downtime, which is — I mean that as a compliment,” Jenkins said.