Mufasa: The Lion King – A Tale of Ambition and Brotherhood

Kareena Rana

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Mufasa: The Lion King was released on 20^th December 2024 as the prequel to the 2019 remake of The Lion King.

This latest addition to Disney’s live-action adaptations was directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins. The film delves into the origin story of Mufasa. It explores his rise from humble beginnings all the way to becoming king of the Pride Lands.

Story and direction

The long-awaited prequel to The Lion King (2019) seeks to flesh out the backstory of the mighty Mufasa, taking its audience along on a journey of ambition and brotherhood.

The film showcases photorealistic animation by presenting lifelike animals against meticulously crafted landscapes. This instalment even surpasses its predecessor in visual commitment, with animals showing more expressive features which encourage emotional engagement.

“The origin story follows a young cub navigating a harsh world.”

Jenkins brings a nuanced perspective to the narrative by exploring the events that shaped Mufasa’s destiny and his relationship with his brother Taka (later known as Scar). The emotional origin story follows a young cub navigating a harsh world. We see the defining choices that lead him to the throne as he learns lessons along the way. The director frames Mufasa’s story as a tale passed down to Simba, reinforcing the circle of life.

While this creative direction adds depth to the story, the film is still constrained by its commercial roots.

Iconic soundtrack

The soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, introduces new songs intended to complement the original’s iconic tracks. However, responses have been mixed. Some have found the songs lacking in memorability, with none of them as catchy as previous songs such as ‘Hakuna Matata’.

Miranda’s songs aim to expand on the emotional core of the story but lack the timeless quality of the original songs. The inclusion of instrumental motifs from Hans Zimmer’s iconic score serves as a nostalgic anchor, but it’s a reminder that the film stands firmly in the shadows of The Lion King (1994).

Despite this, there has been a positive reception on TikTok. The song ‘I Always Wanted a Brother’ blew up online, with people creating trending videos.

@kelvinharrisonjr The soundtrack for #Mufasa ♬ I Always Wanted A Brother – Braelyn Rankins & Theo Somolu & Aaron Pierre & Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Disney

Thematic depth

One of the film’s major strengths lies in its thematic depth. As Mufasa delves into what it truly means to be a leader, he begins to understand both the personal sacrifice and the bonds that leadership demands. Jenkins brings his sensitivity to these moments, emphasising Mufasa’s transformation from a vulnerable young cub to a self-assured king.

However, the film slightly falters in its portrayal of familiar dynamics. The relationship between Mufasa and Taka feels underexplored, leaving the audience yearning for a deeper dive into the complexities of their eventual rivalry.

Box office performance

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) has demonstrated a solid performance in the UK box office since its release. On its opening weekend, the film secured the top spot, grossing £4.4 million from 663 venues.

As of 6^th January 2025, the film surpassed the £20 million milestone, achieving a total of £20.7 million. It maintained the number one position for three consecutive weekends, indicating sustained audience interest.

While these figures are commendable, it is worth noting that the 2019 live action remake of The Lion King had a more robust opening, grossing £16.7 million on its debut weekend. In comparison, the new film has only achieved a fraction of that amount.

“Some find it falls short of the magic that made the original a classic”

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) is a visually stunning prequel which explores the journey of one of Disney’s most beloved characters. For fans of the franchise, the film offers a chance to rediscover the Pride Lands and learn more about a character who is a symbol of strength and wisdom.

However, some find it falls short of the magic that made the original a classic. A safe addition to Disney’s ever-expanding portfolio of reimagined classics.

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• PADDINGTON IN PERU: PAWS FOR THOUGHT

• FIRST LOOK – BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY TRAILER

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Featured image courtesy of Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.