December 20, 2024
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 Kingwas 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 and has grossed $35 million worldwide on a $200 million budget.
Storyline
Sometime after the events of the first film, Simba and Nala have a female cub named Kiara and are expecting another. They leave to visit an oasis where Nala will give birth, while Simba leaves Timon and Pumbaa to watch over Kiara. Rafiki soon visits them and, after telling Kiara about when Simba was her age, decides to share the story about the youth of her grandfather Mufasa and his treacherous younger brother Scar, with Timon and Pumbaa providing color commentary in between.
Long ago, Mufasa is born to a small family of lions consisting of himself and his parents, Masego and Afia, who preach about a mythical land called Milele. A flood strikes, panic spreads, and Mufasa's fear stops him from joining Afia; he is swept away to a far away land where he meets a royal cub named Taka, who saves him from crocodiles while Taka's mother Queen Eshe intervenes. Eshe reluctantly accepts Mufasa as her son, but Taka's father, King Obasi, grounds Taka for welcoming an outsider. Mufasa claims that he could be of service to his pride and races with Taka to prove his speed. Mufasa lingers back due to exhaustion, but Taka concedes defeat in order for Mufasa to be welcomed into the pride, much to Obasi's reluctance.
As Mufasa and Taka grow up, they form a strong brotherly bond. While Eshe teaches Mufasa how to hunt, the land is assaulted by two white lions who attack Mufasa and Eshe, but Mufasa kills one and forces the other to flee. Taka sees the attack, but retreats in fear, earning him the ire of his father. The survivor reports back to Kiros, the leader of a white lion pride called the Outsiders, comprised of lions banished for their white fur, and the father of the lion Mufasa killed; Kiros and his sisters, Akua and Amara, swear vengeance. The Outsiders kill Obasi, Eshe and their clan and chase Mufasa and Taka, who escape while one Outsider is eaten by a crocodile.
As Mufasa and Taka reach land, they encounter a stray lioness named Sarabi, her hornbill friend Zazu and a younger Rafiki, who was exiled by his fellow monkeys and baboons for being different. Rafiki tells them that he is on his way to Milele to find a new home, and the group proceeds to follow him there. Taka begins to grow romantic feelings for Sarabi, but before he can confess them to her, the Outsiders pursue them. Sarabi uses bees to stampede a herd of passing elephants to distract the Outsider, allowing the group to escape. She falls off and gets injured, forcing Mufasa to save her, but he claims to a recovering Sarabi that it was Taka who saved her.
The brothers and their group hide out in snowy mountains. Sarabi tells Mufasa that she knew he saved her, and they soon fall in love. Secretly watching this, a jealous Taka meets up with Kiros and his pride, offering a proposition for Kiros to get revenge on Mufasa for his son's death. The next day, the group reaches Milele, a lush oasis, with Taka secretly leaving marks for the Outsiders to follow.
Rafiki dubs Mufasa as his brother before the Outsiders come to attack. Mufasa learns of Taka's treachery while fighting Kiros. Despite this, Mufasa rallies the animals in the land to fight off the white lions. Kiros forces Mufasa into a cave. Seeing his brother exhausted and realizing what he has done, a remorseful Taka intervenes, and during the struggle, Kiros swipes his paw over Taka's eye, leaving a scar. Rafiki causes a cave-in, resulting in the cave flooding. Akua and Amara are killed in the collapsing as they try to kill Sarabi and the last lions alive. Undeterred, Kiros attempts to drown Mufasa, but a falling rock strikes and kills Kiros as Mufasa swims away and up to safety. Taka is tempted to drown his brother but instead fights the urge to do so and helps him get out of the water.
The flood recedes, and Mufasa and Sarabi exit the cave together as the animals celebrate their victory, with Rafiki dubbing the couple as King and Queen. Mufasa is soon reunited with Afia, who tells him that Masego died in the past flood. Mufasa confronts Taka about his betrayal, showing forgiveness, but, as a consequence, he vows only to refer to Taka as "Scar". Mufasa then goes up to the newly-formed Pride Rock and roars triumphantly.
Back in the present, Kiara roars atop Pride Rock as the spirit of her grandfather looms over her. She and her friends soon reunite with Simba to meet her newly-born younger brother.
Also See
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) (Trailers)
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) (TV Spots)
- The Lion King (1994)
- The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)
- The Lion King 1½ / The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (2004)
- The Lion King (2019)
- Timon & Pumbaa
- Timon & Pumbaa's Wild Adventures (1996)
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Alligator Snort Brea AT063801 (Used twice, once for a Nile Crocodile when Mufasa almost gets eaten while Taka tries to save him, and used again when Obasi growls at Mufasa.)
- Hollywoodedge, Buffalo Grunts Snort AT041001
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Baby Trumpe AT043501 (2nd trumpet only, heard twice.)
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Single Shor AT043401 (Sampled in the song, Milele in a low pitch.)
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Single Trum AT043404 (Used for African Bush Elephants.)
- Hollywoodedge, Elephant Trumpeting PE024801 (Sampled during an elephant stampede, 2nd trumpet heard twice.)
- Hollywoodedge, Hyena Unknown Type Wh AT034301
- Hollywoodedge, Leopard Snarl Fast CU AT012201 (Used for the Outsiders when they roar.)
- Hollywoodedge, Lion Growl Massive Gr AT014201
- Hollywoodedge, Lion Roar Massive Mul AT014001 (Used for Nala when she roars.)
- Hollywoodedge, Lion Cubs Playfighti AT015201 (Used for Kiara and Young Mufasa.)
- Hollywoodedge, Lion Roar Snarl Growl AT013501 (Sampled in a low pitch, used for Kiros when he roars at Mufasa and Taka.)
- Hollywoodedge, Lion Roar Snarl Growl AT013601 (Used for the titular character and other lions when they roar.)
- Hollywoodedge, Tiger Growl Growls AT019201 (Used for the titular character when he roars.)
- Hollywoodedge, Zebra Brays Multiple AT049701 (Used for the zebras when they bray at the beginning.)
- Jurassic Park, T-Rex - Exclamation Roar (Used once for an elephant during an elephant stampede and later for Taka during the final battle between Mufasa and Kiros.)
- SKYWALKER, COW BELLOW (Used once for a rhino.)
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, WILDEBEEST - DEATH CRY, BLEATS, MOANS (Used for a Thomson's Gazelle when it bellows during Mufasa and Taka's encounter with the Outsiders.)
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, ZEBRA - DISTANT CHIRPING, SINGLE CALL/ANIMALS: BURCHELL'S ZEBRA - MIDDLE DISTANCE CALLING FROM SINGLE ANIMAL, S AFRICA
- Sound Ideas, LION - ROARING, ANIMAL, CAT (Briefly heard; used once during Mufasa and Taka's encounter with the Outsiders.)
- Sound Ideas, SPLAT, CARTOON - WET HIT 02