Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King takes us back to the Pride Lands to explore the origin story of the mighty Lion King, Mufasa. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the prequel to The Lion King (1994) follows the humble beginnings of Simba’s father, tracing his journey from an orphaned cub – an outsider – to his rise as the beloved leader of Pride Rock Is.

Mufasa: The Lion King begins with Rafiki (John Kani) telling Kiara (Simba’s daughter), Timon, and Pumbaa the story of Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), explaining how the once-normal The Cub overcame his weaknesses and status as an outsider. Become a king. During a flood, Mufasa gets separated from his parents and finds himself in a new environment where he meets Taka (Calvin Harrison Jr.), who eventually becomes Scar. The bond between young Mufasa and Taka begins as brotherly love but turns into rivalry during their escape into Miele.

Despite meeting familiar characters, Jeff Nathanson’s weak screenplay diminishes the story’s emotional depth, making potentially touching moments feel hollow.

Here is the trailer:

While the story of an outsider – orphaned and raised by women – who eventually becomes a powerful king is interesting on paper, Mufasa’s journey to greatness lacks the emotional weight needed to make it stand out. The heart-wrenching moments fail, largely because the script fails to delve deeply into the complexity of its characters.

On the bright side, the views are spectacular. Disney once again delivers photo-realistic animation that brings the Pride Lands to life with stunning detail. From the vibrant Savannah landscape to the intricately designed character expressions, the film is a visual treat. Sher conveys emotion with incredible subtlety, providing some sense of gravitas to an otherwise weak narrative.

The voice cast is another highlight. Aaron Pierre captures Mufasa’s strength and vulnerability with his gritty performance, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. adds layers of tension and jealousy to Scar. John Kani as Rafiki brings warmth and nostalgia, connecting the prequel to its predecessor.

However, one of the most significant disappointments is in the music. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the songs for the prequel, but the tracks are hardly memorable except for I Always Wanted a Brother. The original songs, which played such a vital role in making The Lion King a cultural phenomenon, fail to make an impact here. Without soaring anthems or emotional melodies, the music becomes a forgettable background element rather than a driving force.

As the credits roll, a question arises: was Mufasa: The Lion King necessary? While it adds context to a beloved character, the film’s weak story and forgettable soundtrack make it feel more like a visually ambitious project than a worthwhile addition to the franchise.

Shah Rukh Khan, Abram and Aryan will lend their voices to Mufasa, Young Mufasa and Simba respectively in the Hindi version of the film.

Mufasa: The Lion King will release in India on December 20, 2024.