Mufasa: The Lion King, a beautiful empty shell [critique]

Barry Jenkins' prequel is a feast for the eyes (and ears), but doesn't add much to the Lion King mythology.

After the immense success of the remake of Lion King by Jon Favreau, which grossed more than 1.6 billion worldwide in 2019, Disney wasted no time in putting another film in motion. To mask the commercialism of the project a little, a recognized author was hired, Oscar-winning director Barry “Moonlight” Jenkins. In September 2022, its title was revealed: Mufasa: The Lion King.

A sequel? A prequel? A bit of both. The film begins after the events of Lion King. Having to go away, Simba asks Timon and Pumbaa to look after Kiara, the daughter he had with Nala. The two babysitters are soon joined by Rafiki, who will then tell the young lioness, terrorized by lightning, the story of an orphan lion who became king: his grandfather Mufasa. The (big) flashback can begin.

Mufasa's story is not what we are already told in The Lion King ? Yes, but this is different. It is the story of YOUNG Mufasa, and his friendship with Taka, a prince who will welcome him as his brother after saving him from drowning. The two young lions grow up together, and Mufasa proves more courageous and valorous than Taka, promised to succeed his father as king of the jungle.

Didn't you wonder how Scar got his famous scar, and why he hates his brother so much? Didn't you care that that wasn't his real name? Mufasa tells you anyway. In 2 hours of film, you will even know that Taka/Scar had designs on Sarabi, Mufasa's future wife, whom he wants to make his queen in The Lion King after causing the death of his brother.

Telling us what we already knew, under a new prism, is the game of prequels. But Mufasa is not The Godfather 2and Barry Jenkins had a hard time injecting tragedy and captivating us with his reflection on destiny and filiation. He even falls back into the faults of Lion Kingand its monarchical propaganda analyzed many times. Why does the jungle need a ruler, anyway? Maybe another movie will explain it to us one day.

The treatment of the band of white lions, led by the terrible Kiros (voiced in original version by Madds Mikkelsen), is also problematic. Like the hyenas of Lion Kingthey are presented as animals who have been ostracized (because they are albino?) and have banded together to take revenge on the other lions and reclaim their territory. Did they deserve to be excluded from the community? Here again, it is better not to see it as a parable with reality…

Failing to nourish the mythology Lion Kingas Furiosa did it with grandeur earlier this year for Mad Max (in an admittedly incomparable register), Mufasa is objectively beautiful family entertainment for the eyes. The photo-realism technique is mastered to perfection, certain POV shots are truly impressive, and we can only fall in love with the images of Mufasa and Taka as lion cubs. And admire the attention to detail, like the wet fur of the felines after a stay in the water.

Fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda will also get their money's worth. After having enchanted Mary Poppins Returns, Moana Or Encantothe Broadway prodigy signs new catchy and original music for Disney (special mention to Kiros' song, “Bye Bye”, inspired by Mikkelsen). Too bad all of this is put at the service of fan fiction which should, ironically, attract significantly less crowds than the 2019 film according to predictions from the Hollywood press. Hakuna Matata?