Mufasa: The Lion King 2024 Parents Guide

Last Updated on November 27, 2024 by Stephinie Heitman

Mufasa: The Lion King is a 2024 Adventure, Animation, Drama, and Family Fantasy Movie Directed by Barry Jenkins and written by Linda Woolverton, Irene Mecchi, and Jonathan Roberts. The film stars Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Seth Rogen released on December 20, 2024.

Mufasa: The Lion King – The Untold Story of a King

Disney’s upcoming movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, is tied to the worldwide phenomenon of The Lion King (2019), which made a staggering $1.6Bn at the box office. Yeah, that is a lot of money, but then again, it proves just how adored the original story is. Now, Disney is giving us a new story—in this case, it is about the young years of Mufasa, the great and wise lion who will be the king in the future.

However, making a prequel is not an easy task. The 2019 movie did not bring joy to everybody and some people believed that the franchise did not do justice to the 1994 animated movie. Thus, will the audience accept this new fairytale? The good news is that the project is in the hands of Barry Jenkins, the director who has a reputation for delivering emotionally powerful and visually stunning movies. If anyone can make us love the sight of the Lion King prequel, then it must be him.

Who Is Barry Jenkins and Why Is He a Big Deal?:

Barry Jenkins is more than just another director; he is one of the most renowned Hollywood filmmakers. He directed a movie, Moonlight, for which he received an Academy Award, and it is a gripping narrative about the process of growing up and searching for one’s place in the world. This is evident in his films as the majority of them touch on issues to do with family, love, and struggles we go through in life.

But here’s what’s different about Mufasa: The Lion King: this is the first attempt by Barry Jenkins to explore a big-budget Hollywood movie for a company like Disney. Prior to this, he focused on the intricate, private-scale works. The public will want to know how Jenkins will be able to contain such a big story that comes with very high expectations. It is a test, but with him, this movie has a good chance of standing out due to his talent and approach to narrating stories.

What’s the Movie About?

The trailer for Mufasa: It is said that The Lion King provides the audience with a first glimpse into the movie’s narrative, and what an exhilarating first glimpse it is! While the first Lion King movie revolves around the story of how Simba ascends to the throne of the Pride Lands, this prequel brings audiences to the time when Mufasa was still a young cub.

This part of the movie starts with a scene where Mufasa is still a young cub who finds himself wandering in the jungle all by himself. He is saved by Taka, his elder brother, who will metamorphose into Scar, the most popular antagonist in the movie. Initially, Mufasa and Taka are friends and play together, go on a hunt, and rely on each other as brothers do.

However, as years pass by, they have posed challenges that would challenge their relationship. Younger to Simba, Taka is the one destined to be king until Mufasa shows everyone that he has the heart of a brave, kind, and strong lion. This leads to conflict between the brothers AND sets the stage for events in their lives—and in the Pride Lands.

The movie also reunites some of the characters from the first and second movies. Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala is taken through the story of Mufasa and Scar by Timon and Pumbaa, the meerkat and the warthog respectively. This storytelling offers links between the past and the present, which makes the film seem like a continuation of a larger story.

Where We Left Out:

As a standalone film, the 2019 version of The Lion King is a remake of the 1994 animated film with some changes and a visually stunning style. It continues the story of Simba, the young lion cub who idolizes his father Mufasa, and only dreams of ruling over the Pride Lands, or as the native phrase put it, all that the sun touches. One day, Simba’s ruthless uncle Scar tries to usurp the throne and Mufasa is killed in a stampede by an evil wildebeest. Scar deceives Simba into thinking that he is at fault and the young lion runs away from the Pride Lands in disgrace.

During his stay in the wild, Simba encounters Timon and Pumbaa, the free-spirited meerkat and the carefree warthog who teaches him the meaning of Hakuna Matata. While Mufasa raises his son Simba in the wild, the Pride Lands deteriorate, and Scar brings suffering to the animals. Embarked by his childhood friend Nala and philosophical mandrill Rafiki, Simba wakes up and decides to challenge his uncle Scar. In the end, The Lion King emphasizes the conclusion of the battle and Simba’s ascending to the throne rightfully to bring back order in the Pride Lands.

The remake provides a deeper exploration of the original story through the events’ extension, additional details, and slower rhythm. It strengthens the camaraderie of Mufasa and Simba, where light represents the two characters and the darkness in them depicts their togetherness; Scar is represented as a skinnier and more threatening villain with a greater hatred for Mufasa. A visually beautiful scene of lion’s fur flying across the savannah represents the importance of nature and Simba’s role in it. In contrast to the cartoonish style that the animated movie of the same name has, the 2019 movie brings a more realistic approach to the plot.

Although it looks less expressive compared to the animated character, it remains an impressive piece of work that takes elements familiar from the cartoon and adds new facets. For bright young minds, this remake is the best accomplishment as it can reconcile enchanting childhood memories and respect for the craft and the advances in technology. If there is a sequel, it can focus on the rule of Simba with new challenges at the helm of the new kingdom and young ones to ensure the Circle of Life.

What Makes This Movie Special?

One of the biggest draws of Mufasa: One of the major strengths of The Lion King is its visuals. As for the trailer, it is clear that the movie will feature outstanding stunts, memorable locations, and impressive details. Thus, the settings, ranging from African landscapes to the main characters’ personalities, look like paintings on screen. It is the kind of movie that would look best on a large screen to allow the audience to appreciate the beauty of the movie.

Another great thing about this show is its great cast. Some of the main actors in the movie include Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr (Taka/Scar), and Thandiwe Newton whilst Simba and Nala in the 2019 movie are voiced by Donald Glover and Beyoncé respectively. Considering such a cast, fans will be waiting for something sensational.

How Are Fans Reacting?:

Well, as I mentioned above, the trailer has been released and there is a lot of anticipation and hype from the fans. The audience has already shared how emotional and thrilling the movie is. As one fan noted, ‘In general this story looks as if it is brimming with so much sentimentality and passion.’ Long live Mufasa!” One fan commented, “I have never thought that Mufasa and Scar were once brothers.” It is emotional and so realistic that one feels they are part of the two characters’ journey.

These reactions demonstrate just how much the world of Lion King is valued by them. It is not just resolved around lions; it is about family, friendship, and learning to deal with life issues as we become older. And with Mufasa: About the Lion King, it seems that Disney decided to incorporate an entirely new level in this marvelous story.

Will It Be a Success?

To be considered a success on Rotten Tomatoes, Mufasa: The Lion King to replace Hunchback of Notre Dame, has to receive a score of at least 60 percent, which will make it a fresh Disney movie. That is not a small feat especially with a section of the audience still questioning the need for prequels. But Mufasa has a major advantage: it is not the same old story that we have already told over and over again. It is not a reboot or a redoing of The Lion King, but a continuation of the story and discovering new characters and connections.

However, the movie is under the pressure of expectations from the original Lion King and from Jenkins’s previous movies. Well, that is a huge task, but the group working on the movie seems to be eager to produce something special.

So, will Mufasa: The Lion King be the next Disney classic? Or will it simply fail to meet the high expectations of its legendary namesake? We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing’s for sure: these conclusions lead me to believe that this is a movie worth watching.