Mufasa: The Lion King is a 2024 American musical drama film directed by Barry Jenkins from a screenplay written by Jeff Nathanson. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the film is photorealistically animated and serves as both a prequel and sequel to The Lion King (2019), the remake of the 1994 animated film of the same name. Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and John Kani reprise their roles from the remake; new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, and Blue Ivy Carter in her feature film debut. Development on a prequel to The Lion King was confirmed in September 2020, with Jenkins attached to direct and Nathanson finishing a draft of the script. Pierre and Harrison Jr. were announced as the voice cast in August 2021, followed by further casting between September 2022 and April 2024. The film was officially announced when its official title was revealed in September 2022 at the 2022 D23 Expo announcement. Production on the film slowed down in July 2023 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The film is dedicated to James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the 1994 film and the remake, died before the film's release, and whose voice is heard briefly during the opening titles. Mufasa: The Lion King premiered on December 9, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and was released in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on December 20, 2024. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $155 million.

Plot

Sometime after Simba becomes King of the Pride Rock, he and Nala have two cubs named Kiara and Kion. They leave for an oasis, while Simba asks Timon and Pumbaa to watch over Kiara. Rafiki soon visits them and decides to share the story about her grandfather Mufasa and his treacherous younger brother Scar, with Timon and Pumbaa providing color commentary in between. Long ago, Mufasa was born to a small family consisting of himself and his parents, Masego and Afia, who preach about a mythical land called Milele. A flood strikes, and Mufasa's fear stops him from joining Afia; he is swept away where he meets a royal cub named Taka, who saves him from young crocodiles while Taka's mother, Queen Eshe, intervenes. Eshe reluctantly accepts Mufasa as her son, but Taka's father, King Obasi, grounds Taka for welcoming an outsider. Mufasa claims that he could be of service to his pride and races with Taka to prove his speed. Mufasa lingers back due to exhaustion, but Taka concedes defeat so that Mufasa can be welcomed into the pride. As Mufasa and Taka grow up, they form a strong brotherly bond. While Eshe teaches Mufasa how to hunt, the land is assaulted by two white lions who attack Mufasa and Eshe, but Mufasa kills one while the other flees. Taka sees the attack but retreats in fear. The survivor reports back to Kiros, the leader of a white Lion pride called the Outsiders, composed of lions banished for their white fur, and the father of the Lion Mufasa killed; Kiros and his sisters, Akua and Amara, swear vengeance. The Outsiders kill Obasi, Eshe, and their clan before chasing Mufasa and Taka, who escape into a river. As Mufasa and Taka reach land, they encounter a stray lioness named Sarabi, her hornbill friend Zazu, and a younger Rafiki. Rafiki tells them he is going to Milele to find a new home, and the group follows him there. Taka has romantic feelings for Sarabi, but the Outsiders pursue them. Sarabi uses bees to cause an elephant stampede to distract the Outsiders, allowing the group to escape. She falls off and gets injured, forcing Mufasa to save her, but he claims to a recovering Sarabi that Taka saved her. The group hides in snowy mountain to recuperate. Sarabi tells Mufasa that she knows he saved her, and they soon fall in love. Secretly watching this, a jealous Taka meets Kiros and his pride, offering a proposition for Kiros to get revenge on Mufasa for his son's death. The next day, the group reaches Milele, a lush oasis, with Taka secretly leaving marks for the Outsiders to follow. Rafiki dubs Mufasa as his brother before the Outsiders come to attack. Mufasa learns of Taka's treachery while fighting Kiros. Despite this, Mufasa rallies the animals in the land to fight off the Outsiders. Kiros forces Mufasa into a cave. Seeing his brother exhausted and realizing what he has done, a remorseful Taka intervenes, and during the struggle, Kiros swipes his paw over Taka's eye, leaving a scar. Rafiki causes a cave-in, resulting in the cave flooding. Akua and Amara are killed in the collapse as they try to kill Sarabi and the last lions alive. Undeterred, Kiros attempts to drown Mufasa, but a falling rock strikes and kills Kiros as Mufasa swims away to safety. Taka is tempted to drown his brother but instead helps him get out of the water. The flood recedes, and Mufasa and Sarabi exit the cave together as the animals celebrate their victory. Rafiki dubs the couple King and Queen. Mufasa is soon reunited with Afia, who tells him that Masego died in the previous flood. Mufasa confronts Taka about his betrayal and shows tolerance, but not forgiveness as he vows only to refer to Taka as "Scar." Mufasa then goes up to the newly formed Pride Rock and roars triumphantly. But Scar still holds a huge grudge against Mufasa and someday he will overthrow his throne of Pride Rock. Back in the present, Kiara roars atop Pride Rock as the spirit of her grandfather looms over her. She and her friends soon reunite with Simba to meet her newly-born younger brother.

Voice cast

Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, an orphaned Lion who grows up to become the future King of the Pride Lands and the father of Simba. Braelyn and Brielle Rankins voice Mufasa as a cub Archived recordings of James Earl Jones as Mufasa is used during the opening of the film, Jones died three months before the film's release and was dedicated to his memory. Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, a Lion who later becomes known as Scar. He is a young prince and adoptive brother of Mufasa, and the son of Eshe and Obasi. Theo Somolu voices Taka as a cub John Kani as Rafiki, a wise mandrill who serves as the shaman of the Pride Lands, and a close friend of Mufasa's, telling his story to Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa. Kagiso Lediga as young Rafiki Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, a good-humored warthog who befriended Simba when he was a cub. Billy Eichner as Timon, a wise-cracking meerkat who befriended Simba when he was a cub. Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, a lioness who befriends Mufasa, Taka, Rafiki, and Zazu, and grows up to become the queen of the Pride Lands and the mother of Simba. Donald Glover as Simba, the current King of Pride Rock and Mufasa and Sarabi's son. Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, the formidable leader of a pride of white lions known as the Outsiders, who seeks revenge on Mufasa for murdering his son. Thandiwe Newton as Eshe, Taka's mother, Mufasa's adoptive mother, and Obasi's mate. Lennie James as Obasi, Taka's father, Mufasa's adoptive father, Eshe's mate, and the leader of his pride. Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara, Simba and Nala's daughter, Mufasa and Sarabi's granddaughter and the cub princess of the Pride Lands. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Simba's mate, the queen of the Pride Lands, and Mufasa and Sarabi's daughter-in-law. Preston Nyman as Zazu, a young hornbill and the future majordomo to the King of the Pride Lands who is Sarabi's scout. Anika Noni Rose as Afia, Mufasa's biological mother. Keith David as Masego, Mufasa's biological father. Joanna Jones as Akua, a white lioness member of the Outsiders, and Kiros' sister. Folake Olowofoyeku as Amara, another white lioness member of the Outsiders and Kiros' second sister. Thuso Mbedu as Junia, an olive baboon who is a friend of Rafiki and a member of her troop. Sheila Atim as Ajarry, a giraffe, who is a friend of Mufasa since childhood and the leader of her herd. Abdul Salis as Chigaru, Taka's uncle, Mufasa's adoptive uncle and Obasi's brother. Derrick L. McMillon as Mosi, the Cape buffalo, who is a friend of Ajarry and Mufasa and the leader of his herd. Maestro Harrell as Inaki, a white Lion, former member of the outsiders which gets eaten by lionesses. A.J. Beckles as Azibo, an olive baboon who is friend of Junia and a member of Junia's troop. David S. Lee as Mobo, another olive baboon who is a friend of Junia and a member of Junia's troop. Dominique Jennings as Sarafina, Nala's mother, and a friend of Sarabi.

Production

= Development

= In September 2020, it was announced that a follow-up film to the live-action-styled CGI photorealistic 2019 remake of The Lion King (1994) was in development, with Barry Jenkins attached to direct. The film is Jenkins' fourth directorial venture and first into blockbuster filmmaking. Reports indicated that the project would have a story centered on Mufasa during his formative years, with additional scenes focusing on the events after the first film, comparing the structure to that of The Godfather Part II (1974). By this point, Jeff Nathanson, the previous installment's screenwriter, had completed a draft of the script. The film was officially announced, with the title of Mufasa: The Lion King at the 2022 D23 Expo. On December 13, 2023, the Hollywood Handle reported that the film's plot would involve Rafiki telling the story of Mufasa to his granddaughter, Kiara, marking the character's first on-screen appearance in an animated feature film since The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), the direct-to-video sequel to the original animated film. In regards on how much his film would adapt from Simba's Pride, Jenkins admitted that "some stuff" from the canon is very much alluded and referenced, but it is not an adaptation per se.

= Casting

= In August 2021, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were cast as the voices of young Mufasa and Scar, respectively. During an interview with Fandango in April 2023 about his film Chevalier (2022), Harrison Jr. confirmed that the film would explore Scar's backstory, portraying him in a "hilarious and very, very spicy" way and expressing interest in how the young and sweet Scar's relationship with his brother Mufasa evolves throughout the film. Speaking with ComicBook.com in August 2024, Pierre expressed his feelings about how his role as Terry Richmond and his work with Jeremy Saulnier in Rebel Ridge (2024) offered him, like most of his projects, the opportunity to internalize lessons from the work and characters so as to move forward with his role as Mufasa, feeling that previous life experiences inform his future ones. By September 2022, it was revealed that Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani would reprise their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki, respectively. In April 2024, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Donald Glover were confirmed to reprise their roles, with Blue Ivy Carter (in her feature film debut), Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, and Dominique Jennings announced as new additions to the cast. Jenkins considered casting Blue Ivy as Kiara since he heard the audiobook version she did for his friend Matthew A. Cherry's Hair Love (2019) short film, but had reservations on whether she and her mother would want to act opposite each other, fearing it may hit "too close to home". However, both Blue Ivy and Beyoncé were enthusiastic when he proposed the idea to them. Coupled with Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour, during which Blue Ivy participated as a dancer in a performance of one of The Lion King: The Gift (2019) album's songs, Jenkins felt there was some sort of synergy between mother and daughter with the film showcasing some type of "time capsule".

= Visual effects

= In September 2022, at D23, the first footage was played exclusively to attendees, thus revealing that production had been underway. Moving Picture Company is returning to provide the visual effects. In July 2023, production on the film slowed down due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Music

By June 2022, Nicholas Britell was set to compose the score for the film, having previously collaborated with Jenkins on various projects. He was joined by Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams in September, returning from the 2019 film. In April 2024, it was announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda would write the songs for the film; Jenkins approached Miranda to work on the film due to keeping in touch since Jenkins almost cast Miranda in his film If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). He started work on it in secret at the beginning of 2022. Mark Mancina was to co-produce the songs with Miranda, with Lebo M providing additional vocals and performances. In September 2024, Dave Metzger was announced to be composing the film's score alongside Britell and Williams, with Zimmer said to have dropped out prior to production though Metzger received sole credit for the film's original score. Zimmer's themes from the previous films, however, are reused in Metzger's score, such as "Under the Stars" and "King of Pride Rock," while Zimmer is credited for the track "And So It's Time".

Marketing

During the D23, an exclusive preview for the film was shown to those who attended, which revealed that Mufasa was an orphaned cub. The preview also revealed that Rafiki and Timon will tell stories about Mufasa's past and his way to becoming King. Barry Jenkins also appeared during The Walt Disney Studios' presentation of their 2024 theatrical slate at CinemaCon on April 11, 2024, to promote the film, where he remarked: "You are probably wondering... what is the director of Moonlight doing talking to me about an eight-quadrant tentpole legacy IP massive film? [...] And I gotta say, the thought was very strange to me at first, as well. But oh my god. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life, and I'm so glad I made this picture." The first teaser trailer and the official teaser poster, featuring young Mufasa with his adult counterpart reflected in a puddle in front of him, debuted on April 29, 2024, on ABC's Good Morning America. The trailer's music track was bookended by a new instrumental rendition of "Circle of Life," confirming that some musical material by Elton John and Tim Rice from the previous film would be featured in the film in some way. The trailer received a mixed reception, with some deeming the film as "unnecessary" and a "soulless prequel to a soulless remake". Jenkins responded on Twitter writing, "There is nothing soulless about The Lion King ... For decades children have sat in theaters all over the world experiencing collective grief for the first time, engaging Shakespeare for the first time, across aisles in myriad languages. A most potent vessel for communal empathy." The official full trailer for the film premiered during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at the 2024 D23 Expo on August 10, 2024, alongside a variant on the first poster with Taka and his future adult counterpart of Scar reflected in the puddle. The presentation also showcased a first listen to "I Always Wanted a Brother," one of the songs Miranda wrote for the film. The final trailer was unveiled at D23 Brazil on November 8, 2024, alongside a new poster feauturing Mufasa, Taka, Rafiki, Zazu, Timon, Pumba, and Kiara. Earlier that day, Tiffany Boone and Kelvin Harrison Jr. appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the film and share a sneak-peek of the trailer.

Release

Mufasa: The Lion King’s world premiere took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on December 9, 2024, and was released in the United States on December 20, 2024. It was previously scheduled for release on July 5, 2024, but was delayed to its current date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Reception

= Box office

= As of December 24, 2024, Mufasa: The Lion King has grossed $50 million in the United States and Canada, and $105 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $155 million. In the United States and Canada, Mufasa: The Lion King was released alongside Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and was originally projected to gross around $50 million from 4,100 theaters in its opening weekend. After making $13.3 million on its first day (including $3.3 million from Thursday night previews), weekend estimates were lowered to $36–38 million. It went on to debut to $35 million, finishing second behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

= Critical response

= On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 55% of 172 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Barry Jenkins' deft hand and Lin-Manuel Miranda's music go some way towards squaring the Circle of Life in Mufasa, but this fitfully soulful story is ill-served by its impersonal, photorealistic animation style." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, lower than the A earned by its predecessor.

Notes

References

External links

Official website Mufasa: The Lion King at IMDb