“Mufasa: The Lion King,” directed by Barry Jenkins, serves as a prequel to Disney’s 2019 “The Lion King” remake, exploring Mufasa’s origins and his relationship with his brother, Taka, who later becomes Scar. The film features a talented voice cast, including Aaron Pierre as young Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, with narration by Rafiki. The soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, complements the narrative.
Critics have offered mixed reviews. The Atlantic notes that Jenkins emphasizes character depth and visual storytelling, distinguishing the film from previous CGI-heavy Disney remakes. However, it also mentions that the film remains anchored in Disney’s commercial franchise model.
The Sun praises the film as a “beautifully crafted prequel,” highlighting its engaging story, strong cast, and stunning visual effects.
Entertainment Weekly describes the prequel as “a rather uninspiring thing,” critiquing the script for overindulging in backstory explanations and finding the new soundtrack lackluster.
Vulture criticizes the film as “lifeless” and “bland,” suggesting that despite impressive technical aspects, it fails to make a significant impression.
In summary, while “Mufasa: The Lion King” offers a visually impressive experience with strong voice performances, opinions vary regarding its narrative depth and overall impact.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Barry Jenkins |
| Screenplay by | Jeff Nathanson |
| Based on | Disney’s The Lion King by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton |
| Produced by | Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak |
| Starring | Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Donald Glover, 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, Nicholas Britell (score), Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs) |
| Production company | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Release dates | December 9, 2024 (Dolby Theatre), December 20, 2024 (United States) |
| Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $200+ million |
| Box office | $3.3 million |
Voice cast:
Main Characters
- Aaron Pierre as Mufasa: An orphaned lion who grows up to become the future king of the Pride Lands and the father of Simba.
- Voiced as a cub by: Braelyn and Brielle Rankins
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka (Scar): A young prince and adoptive brother of Mufasa, later known as Scar. He is the son of Eshe and Obasi.
- Voiced as a cub by: Theo Somolu
- John Kani as Rafiki: A wise mandrill, shaman of the Pride Lands, and close friend of Mufasa. He narrates Mufasa’s story alongside Kiara, Timon, and Pumbaa.
- Voiced as young Rafiki by: Kagiso Lediga
- Tiffany Boone as Sarabi: A lioness who befriends Mufasa, Taka, Rafiki, and Zazu. She grows up to become the queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Simba.
- Donald Glover as Simba: The current king of Pride Rock and son of Mufasa and Sarabi.
- 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, queen of the Pride Lands, and daughter-in-law of Mufasa and Sarabi.
- Seth Rogen as Pumbaa: A good-humored warthog who befriends Simba as a cub.
- Billy Eichner as Timon: A wise-cracking meerkat who befriends Simba as a cub.
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros: Leader of the Outsiders, a pride of white lions, seeking revenge on Mufasa for killing his son.
- Preston Nyman as Zazu: A young hornbill and future majordomo of the Pride Lands, serving as Sarabi’s scout.
Supporting Characters
- Thandiwe Newton as Eshe: Taka’s mother, Mufasa’s adoptive mother, and mate to Obasi.
- Lennie James as Obasi: Taka’s father, Mufasa’s adoptive father, and leader of his pride.
- Anika Noni Rose as Afia: Mufasa’s biological mother.
- Keith David as Masego: Mufasa’s biological father.
The Outsiders
- Joanna Jones as Akua: A white lioness and sister of Kiros.
- Folake Olowofoyeku as Amara: Another white lioness and Kiros’ second sister.
Other Characters
- Thuso Mbedu as Junia: An olive baboon and friend of Rafiki.
- Sheila Atim as Ajarry: Role unspecified.
- Abdul Salis as Chigaru: Taka’s uncle, Mufasa’s adoptive uncle, and Obasi’s brother.
- Dominique Jennings as Sarafina: Nala’s mother and friend of Sarabi.
Additional Appearances
- Kion: Simba and Nala’s son, and Kiara’s younger brother, has a cameo at the end of the film (from The Lion Guard).
- James Earl Jones (archived audio): The late actor’s voice of Mufasa is heard during the opening as a tribute to his legacy.
Production:
Production Details of Mufasa: The Lion King
Development
- Disney announced Mufasa: The Lion King as a prequel to the 2019 CGI remake of The Lion King. The project aimed to explore Mufasa’s origins, how he rose to power, and his relationship with Taka (later Scar).
- Barry Jenkins, an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for Moonlight, was brought on board to direct the film. Jenkins expressed excitement about expanding on the legacy of the Pride Lands with a focus on themes of family and identity.
Screenplay
- The screenplay was written by Jeff Nathanson, who also wrote the script for the 2019 remake of The Lion King.
Casting
- Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. were cast as the voices of young Mufasa and Taka, respectively.
- The cast features a mix of returning voices from the 2019 remake and new talent, including Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and Donald Glover, alongside others.
Music
- The music score was composed by Nicholas Britell and Dave Metzger, continuing the orchestral grandeur of the franchise.
- Original songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, adding new lyrical elements to the Pride Lands’ story.
Cinematography & Visuals
- James Laxton handled cinematography, ensuring the visuals maintained the cinematic grandeur established in the 2019 film.
- The production heavily utilized cutting-edge CGI to create realistic animal characters and the stunning landscapes of the Pride Lands.
Editing
- Joi McMillon, known for her work with Jenkins on Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, edited the film.
Production Companies
- Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, with Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak taking the lead as producers.
Budget
- The film’s production budget exceeded $200 million, reflecting Disney’s commitment to high-quality visuals and a star-studded cast.
Release Information
- The film premiered on December 9, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
- It was released theatrically in the United States on December 20, 2024.
Significance
Mufasa: The Lion King serves as an expansion of the iconic franchise, diving deeper into the lore of the Pride Lands while paying homage to its predecessor’s legacy.
