Film: Mufasa: The Lion King Cast(voice): Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James Director: Barry Jenkins Rating: 3/5 Runtime: 118 min. This “live-action” animated origin story about the young cat Mufasa( ) who becomes Simba’s royal father, is rather scattered and jumpy.
Disney continues to mine its IP’s for greater gains and this is another example of that avaricious trend. In this follow-up to Jon Favreau’s 2019 live-action remake of the beloved 1994 film, Mufasa’s life as an orphan and the origins of his feud with Scar are explained in biopic fashion. This Barry Jenkins-directed project though photo-realistically captured, is quite a strain on the eyes and ears.
Mufasa opens in the aftermath of the 2019 movie. A storm approaches the kingdom, as Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) prepares to give birth. Simba (Donald Glover)wanting to be by her side, tasks Pumbaa ( ) and Timon (Billy Eichner) to watch over his daughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter).
This is basically a set up for Rafiki (John Kani) to tell Kiara the story of her grandfather, Mufasa. The mandrill’s tale introduces a young Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins) caught up in a flood that violently separates him from his parents. He eventually finds friendship with Taka (Theo Somolu), who saves his life and takes him into his Royal fold despite Taka’s father Obasi’s (Lennie James) disapproval.
The older Mufasa (now voiced by Pierre.
