Beyoncé and Jay-Z 'Weren't Involved' in Blue Ivy Getting Mufasa Role, Says Director: 'I Just Really Loved Her Voice' (Exclusive)

Blue Ivy Carter, 12, is full and busy and not just because of her parents.

While you were on Mufasa: The Lion King Premiere in LA on Monday, December 9, director Barry Jenkins, 45, revealed that while it’s easy to assume the pre-teen got the part in the film because of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, that’s not entirely the case.

“Her parents were not involved in her booking this film,” he told PEOPLE exclusively.

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy coordinate in gold dresses as they forge a strong bond Mufasa: The Lion King Red carpet

“You know, she read this book, this audio book Love for hair with my friend Matthew Cherry. And I really loved her voice. Because [when] this movie starts, all are voices. I could just tell she was going to bring this really beautiful innocence, but also the knowledge of a highly developed child,” he explained.

Blue Ivy Carter at the premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King”.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

“And she’s… the kids in the audience are going to see themselves in the character that she’s playing, Kiari. She just brought all the complexity that it required.”

IN MufasaBeyoncé reprises her voice role as Nala, while the lioness cub Kiara is voiced by Blue Ivy.

As for what it was like to direct her, Blue Ivy seems to have adopted her parents’ work ethic.

“She was great to work with,” enthuses Jenkins. – She came extremely prepared.

Blue Ivy worked on Love for hair still in 2020. The book tells the touching story of a black-skinned father who teaches his little daughter to do her hair while his wife is in the hospital. As the young protagonist soon finds out, her father isn’t quite sure what to do with her locks—but they work together to find a solution.

The animated film adaptation of the book also won an Oscar the same year.

For Jenkins, creation Mufasa: The Lion King was also a dream come true as The lion king holds a special place in his heart. “My memories of the original The lion king they watch how my nephews watch it. Because I’ve been babysitting them,” he told PEOPLE. “And it’s really the first time I see them process some really complex emotions, but then they’re laughing five minutes later.”

Barry Jenkins at the premiere of Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” in Los Angeles.

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He continued, “I thought it was a really great magic trick, that only Disney could pull it off. And to be entrusted to do it for another generation, for that same generation, it’s a dream come true.”

The Knowles-Carter clan was on hand to support the newly minted star at Monday night’s big premiere. Both Beyoncé and Jay-Z walked the carpet with their first-born and were also seen cheering her on from the sidelines. Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles was also present at her granddaughter’s big dinner.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to interesting human interest stories. In a behind-the-scenes clip he shares Good morning America On Dec. 10, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer could be seen getting emotional as she sang her daughter’s praises.

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

“Seeing Blue as Kiara and hearing her voice come out of that character — give me a second because I can’t believe that’s my child… It’s so amazing,” the singer said. “It was really hard to focus and do my job after that. I said, ‘Wait, wait, guys, you’ve got to give me a second. I’ve got to digest this.’ I’m so proud of her.”

Mufasa: The Lion King It will be released in theaters on December 20. The film – which also stars Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Anika Noni Rose among others – features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Source: HIS Education