In a world where Disney continues to remake its animated classics, Mufasa: The Lion King stands out—not because of its stunning visuals or nostalgic callbacks, but because of its original story. The film, a prequel to The Lion King, offers a refreshing departure from the studio’s typical trend of live-action and photo-realistic adaptations, most of which have fallen short of the beloved 2D animated originals.
The film introduces a new narrative delves deeper into the relationship between brothers Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and Scar, who was once known as Taka (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.). The story begins with the backstory of Mufasa’s arrival in the Pride Lands. As a lost cub, he is saved by Taka, who was destined to be king of his pride. Taka’s mother (Thandiwe Newton) embraces Mufasa as a brother, but his father (Lennie James) rejects the outsider. Over time, their bond grows, but cracks begin to appear in their relationship as Mufasa becomes the exceptional one and Taka begins to show his insecurities. Enter Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), and the familiar tensions of rivalry and jealousy begin to unravel.
Written by Jeff Nathanson, who previously worked on the 2019 Lion King remake, the script keeps the essence of the original while offering a more heartfelt and less cynical interpretation. Despite some corporate choices, such as the inclusion of Rafiki (John Kani) recounting the story to Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala’s (Beyoncé) daughter Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), these elements feel more like an unnecessary tie-in to future Lion King installments, interrupting the otherwise engaging narrative.
Director Barry Jenkins, known for his Oscar-winning film Moonlight, does his best to inject vibrancy and visual interest into the film, with rich, cinematic landscapes that come closer to the lively animation of the original. While the photo-realistic animals are technically impressive, there remains something inherently limiting about them. Their mouths moving and speaking English, especially while singing, creates an odd and somewhat jarring experience. The animals, despite their lifelike appearance, never quite capture the charm or expressiveness of their animated counterparts, and this detracts from the overall impact.
However, Jenkins succeeds in presenting a compelling and fresh story that highlights themes of family, betrayal, and destiny. While it doesn’t reach the same iconic status as the original Lion King, Mufasa offers an engaging exploration of the backstory of these famous characters and the relationship that shaped the events we know so well.
Despite its issues with pacing and occasional awkward moments, Mufasa: The Lion King is a more enjoyable experience than its predecessors, offering a glimpse of how this type of filmmaking could evolve. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
Mufasa: The Lion King opens in theaters this Thursday. The film is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for “peril, action/violence and some thematic elements.” Running time: 118 minutes. 2.5 stars out of 4.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
