The following interview contains spoilers for the National Geographic docuseries “Lion.”

British actor OJ Lynch, who played Mustafa in a West End version of The Lion King,” narrates National Geographic’s new docuseries “Lion,” a four-part series that follows a lion named Kio from cub to king.

The actor’s rich, deep, resonant voice was just what producers were looking for, Lynch told Moviepaws in a recent Zoom interview. “They were looking for a voice, someone in the style of, let’s say, Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones,” Lynch explained. “And [my friend, who is a producer on the series] thought of me, and she sent me a message and asked me to record a little something, which I did, and the production liked the tone and sound of my voice.”

The recording was done remotely, as Lynch is currently based in Hamburg, Germany.

Lynch’s voiceover approach is slow and measured, but full of empathy as he narrates the unfolding drama of life, some of it tragic, in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya.

“There were some moments which really do hit you hard, and you do have to take a pause for a second and then process what has actually happened,” said Lynch of the saddest moment in the series. “I was probably like an audience member watching it and realizing it for the first time. And then [you have to say], “Okay, let’s get that down and under control and then deliver.”

Some of the series more lighthearted moments happen when Kio, now a young adult, is roughhousing with his brothers, who are described as a “gang of teenagers” who haven’t quite mastered their hunting skills.

Lynch said he recalled some of the levity that was part of the stage production. “There’s certain characteristics that Mufasa has, he has this wonderful playfulness at times when he has his day with his son. I was able to bring some of that into the narration of and the lightness of that to help raise that scene a little,” he said.

He clarified however, that he was not narrating the series as Mufasa: “It’s a similar sort of feeling [to playing Mufasa, but], I wanted to be the conduit, the storyteller for Kio’s story, and not Mufasa telling Kio’s story. There was that clear separation.”

The aspect of Kio’s life that surprised him most was how important his relationship with his older brothers was for the lion — a key difference between real life and the jealous brotherly rivalry at the heart of “The Lion King.”

“Lions for me were always the individual leader of the pride,” said the actor. “But with this, it’s more of a collective. They work in unison to help each other. and as you see in the series, it’s a beautiful bond that exists between them in the way that they support Kio, that he then goes to find them when they’re ostracized from the pride. There are really some great values that we as people can take away from from watching lions.”

Despite the striking differences between the real lions and the celebrated Disney film and stage productions, viewers will likely be reminded of Simba’s journey as they watch Kio grow up and battle rivals, find love and ultimately, a home of his own.

“There are some really beautiful parallels between Kio’s story and Simba’s story. It was sometimes the separation, the lines blurred. But ultimately, with Kio’s story, because obviously it’s the true story of the Lion King, it hits home harder, because of the nature of it, and because there are so many things that he really does have to overcome. It’s not just the death of a loved one, It’s his brothers being ostracized. It’s him going to look for them. He’s always learning, and he’s always developing, and he’s always growing, and those are the core values that that one learns as they move through life. He overcomes a heck of a lot to to finally reach the pinnacle [of being king],” said Lynch.

“Lion” airs Wednesday, Aug. 19 on National Geographic and begins streaming on Thursday, Aug. 20, on Disney+ and Hulu.