Mufasa: The Lion King is an American musical-drama film directed by Barry Jenkins, to be released in 2024. The film is both a prequel and a sequel to the 2019 remake of The Lion King, which was based on the famous 1994 animation film. The film is produced by Walt Disney Pictures and uses photorealistic animation techniques. The film will see re-imagining of characters played by actors such as Seth Rosen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and John Kani. Additionally, new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Mads Mikkelsen, and Thandiwe Newton, among others.
The film follows Mufasa’s childhood and adolescence, where he forms a deep friendship with his brother Taka (later known as Scar). The story portrays Mufasa’s struggles and the events that prepare him to become the future king of the Pride Lands. The film, with its music, amazing characters and deep emotional aspects, takes the audience on a wonderful journey.
Category
Details
Title
Mufasa: The Lion King
Directed by
Barry Jenkins
Screenplay by
Jeff Nathanson
Based on
The Lion King by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton
Produced by
Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak
Starring
Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Cinematography
James Laxton
Edited by
Joi McMillon
Music by
Dave Metzger (score), Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs)
Production Company
Walt Disney Pictures
Distributed by
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release Dates
December 9, 2024 (Premiere at Dolby Theatre), December 20, 2024 (United States)
Running Time
118 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$200 million
Box Office
$721 million
Mufasa: The Story of The Lion King
The musical drama is presented as a prequel to the sequel. The film is released in 2024 and is directed by Barry Jenkins. The film is set against the backdrop of the remake of The Lion King (2019), which was a remake of the 1994 animated film.
The story begins when Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara, is born. They go to an oasis so Nala can give birth to their second child, while Simba has Timon and Pumbaa take care of his daughter. Meanwhile, Rafiki decides to tell Kiara the story of Mufasa, and Timon and Pumbaa comment on it.
The film follows Mufasa’s childhood, when he and his brother Taka, later renamed Scar, set out with their family in search of Milele. Here they have to contend with a gang of white lions who threaten their family. Mufasa and Scar’s love and fighting becomes a struggle.
At the end of the story, Mufasa and Scar’s relationship comes to a serious standstill. Aaron Pierre, who plays Mufasa, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays Scar, have given wonderful performances. The film has contributions from composers Dave Metzger and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who brought the film’s music to life. The film is a memorable experience for fans of The Lion King who wanted to explore the earlier days of Mufasa and Scar.
Movie Review
My opinion of Mufasa: The Lion King is completely positive! I have no regrets about watching this movie. Today I watched two movies, one Mufasa: The Lion King and the other Sonic 3, and I loved both of them. However, I was a bit worried at first because after reading some negative reviews and hearing Sony fans criticize Mufasa, I thought the movie might not be that good. Many reviews said the movie was long and boring, but for me it proved to be the exact opposite. I watched it and I really enjoyed it!
Even though I’ve been a fan of the Lion King since childhood, this movie made me fall in love with it all over again! I also received the novelization for the movie for Christmas, and although I haven’t finished it yet, it did help me understand a lot about the movie and gave me an idea of where the story would go. My friends who came to watch the movie with me and I had lots of laughter and love-filled moments. And Kiara is just adorable!! I would love to see Simba’s Pride in live action in the future, if it follows the original style, I would also like to see more characters like Kovu, his siblings Nuka and Vitani, and his villainous mother Zira.
I think Disney did a great job showing how Taka turned into Scar, who we all know, and how Mufasa became king. And the best part was that Kyros has become my new favorite Disney villain. I’m glad he got a song, which reminds me of the Lion King movies like Be Prepared and My Lullaby. I thought Kyros was really scary and fun, which I haven’t seen in a long time at Disney where there used to be actual villains! And it was also very touching to see that Mufasa and Sarabi love each other.
Another great aspect of the movie was when we were given a tribute to James Earl Jones. Hearing an old recording of his voice was very moving. I’m so glad Disney included this tribute.
Finally, for those who say this was a prequel that no one needed, I say they are totally wrong! It was totally worth watching! I am so grateful and absolutely loved this movie. It was a great comeback from Disney. Of all Disney’s live-action movies, this is the best in my opinion, even better than 2019’s Lion King. I give it 10/10 stars!
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
Mufasa: The Lion King is a fantastic film that marks a great return to form for Disney. The story, acting, and music are all excellent elements, and the character of Qiros in particular introduces a new and impressive villain. The love story of Mufasa and Sarabi is heartwarming, and the film’s tribute to James Earl Jones was an emotional moment. If you are a Lion King fan, this film will not disappoint you. Disney has delivered another masterpiece that is worth watching.
