Mufasa: The Lion King utilizes flashbacks as Rafiki tells the story of a then-younger lion’s journey to become the king of the Pride Lands. It’s weird not hearing the iconic voice of James Earl Jones coming out of Mufasa’s mouth.

I have to be honest in that I wasn’t sure if this film would work for me. It mostly does, although I wish I could have seen it before my first nomination ballot deadline. Unfortunately, the screening came too little, too late. In any event, Barry Jenkins, as unlikely as it may seem, has a good grasp on things as he steps in for Jon Favreau. Jenkins comes from the indie world so he seems like an unlikely choice to direct. Regardless, he doesn’t make some of the same mistakes that Favreau did. For one, the animals have emotions here, as close as they possibly can for a photorealistic film. There are times where the film doesn’t leave too much room for breathing between beats. Another choice is going with wider shots during songs. Yes, it lets audiences in on the action but it prevents us from watching animals singing.

Mufasa’s origin story is not the traditional origin story. Instead, our way into it is through Rafiki (John Kani) as he narrates Mufasa’s journey as a cub (Braelyn Rankins) and an adult (Aaron Pierre). Of course, Mufasa’s journey is intertwined with Scar, then known as Taka as both a cub (Theo Somolu) and an adult (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Anyway, Rafiki is telling the story to Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter). Hakuna Mufasa, you couldn’t even try to make this film without Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen). You could not make this film without the comedic bater of Timon and Pumbaa. Is it really a Lion King film if they aren’t stealing the show? NO!

Back when he was a child and on the way to Milele with his family, Mufasa became an orphan and ends up being saved by another cub, Taka. It turns out that Taka is heir to the throne in this land. If not for Taka’s mother, Mufasa would be have to fend for himself. When trouble reaches their land, it is Mufasa who is given the responsibility of saving Taka and his bloodline. In their attempt to escape, their paths intersect with Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga), and Zazu (Preston Nyman). I won’t give away any of the particulars but there is singing and action involved.

Dave Metzger–who worked on the Broadway production–pays homage to Hans Zimmer’s earlier work. Nicholas Britell also contributed to both the score and songs. Meanwhile, Lin-Manuel Miranda takes over songwriting duties. One song, “Tell Me It’s You,” is already on the Oscars shortlist for Best Original Song. It’s a classic love song! There are other tunes here that are also worthy but fell short. “I Always Wanted A Brother” is heartbreaking when you realize what happens down the road. It’s not quite at the level of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” but Lin-Manuel Miranda is bringing his best effort to the soundtrack. Of course, you really can’t do any version of The Lion King without bringing back Lebo M to provide additional music and vocals.

Here’s the list of new songs in the film:

1. “Ngomso,” performed by Lebo M
2. “Milele,” performed by Anika Noni Rose and Keith David
3. “I Always Wanted a Brother,” performed by Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison, Jr.
4. “Bye Bye,” performed by Mads Mikkelsen, Joanna Jones and Folake Olowofoyeku
5. “We Go Together,” performed by Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiff any Boone, Preston Nyman and Kagiso Lediga
6. “Tell Me It’s You,” performed by Aaron Pierre and Tiff any Boone.
7. “Brother Betrayed,” performed by Kelvin Harrison Jr.

The Lion King, of course, is basically Hamlet in the jungle. In doing further research, I also see where they drew from both stories of Joseph and Moses so that the Hamlet narrative didn’t feel too forced. One can see a similar narrative happening here that draws on the story of Moses. The relationship of Mufasa and Scar can be read similar. Mufasa is like Moses in that he doesn’t come from the same bloodline. Taka, much like Rameses II, is heir to the throne. We obviously know that they end up in the Pride Lands. The journey comes in how they get there.

In terms of the film itself, it’s a blend of live-action filmmaking, VR, and VFX. Most interestingly, there were actors wearing motion-capture suits taking the place of animals. I’m not sure if this same technique was used for the 2019 film.

Mufasa: The Lion King might not become a beloved classic like the original animation but Barry Jenkins and company bring their best efforts.

DIRECTOR: Barry Jenkins
SCREENWRITER: Jeff Nathanson
CAST: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, introducing Blue Ivy Carter, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter

Disney will release Mufasa: The Lion King in theaters on December 20, 2024. Grade: 3.5/5

Please subscribe to Solzy on Buttondown and visit Dugout Dirt.