Mufasa: The Lion King
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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, with particular praise for Jenkins' direction, music, visuals and voice performances, but criticism for the screenplay.
Good Qualities
- Good direction from Barry Jenkins.
- The voice acting has massively improved over the first film, and is far better now.
- Both Aaron Pierre and Braelyn Rankins do a very good job at voicing Mufasa.
- Tiffany Boone does a great impression of the late Madge Sinclair as Sarabi, and her singing is also pretty good too.
- Preston Nyman does a far better performance as Zazu, and an improvement over John Oliver's voice.
- Blue Ivy Carter brings a very charming voice as Kiara, as she captures the youthfulness of Kiara that Michelle Horn, Neve Campbell, and Eden Riegel all gave to her 2D-animated counterpart.
- Mads Mikkelsen does a very sinister and spicy voice for Kiros, and if you hear him sing "Bye Bye", Mads has a great singing voice.