Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King Adventure

A New Direction for the Filmmaker

Barry Jenkins, known for his beautifully tender characterizations, poetically-presented stories of Black lives, and gorgeous images, is taking a departure from his typical work with Mufasa: The Lion King. His next feature film is a photoreal-animated prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 The Lion King, delving into the backstory of Mufasa and Scar (or, Taka, voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), complete with all-new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

A Family Affair

Jenkins explains that the script tells the story of two families: the one created between Scar and Mufasa, and the other that Mufasa builds and grows over the course of the film. This theme of family is a recurring element in Jenkins’ work, and Mufasa: The Lion King is no exception. In building a family, Mufasa learns to grow beyond his own barriers and personal experiences, through engaging with people and seeing how others function in situations that might be terrifying to him.

A Conversation with Empire

Read Empire‘s full Mufasa: The Lion King story – speaking to Barry Jenkins about his filmmaking adventure in the Pride Lands – in the Gladiator II issue, on sale Thursday 29 August. Pre-order a copy online here. Mufasa: The Lion King comes to UK cinemas from 20 December.

Conclusion

Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King promises to be a unique and captivating film that explores the themes of family and growth. With its stunning animation and new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, this prequel is sure to delight audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Mufasa: The Lion King about?
A: The film is a photoreal-animated prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 The Lion King, exploring the backstory of Mufasa and Scar.

Q: Who voices Scar in the film?
A: Kelvin Harrison Jr. voices Scar in the film.

Q: What kind of songs can audiences expect in the film?
A: Lin-Manuel Miranda has written all-new songs for the film.

Q: When does the film come out?
A: Mufasa: The Lion King comes to UK cinemas from 20 December.

Q: Where can I read more about the film?
A: Read Empire‘s full Mufasa: The Lion King story in the Gladiator II issue, on sale Thursday 29 August.