Mufasa: The Lion King is the latest addition to Disney’s broad collection of remakes and sequels. The film explores Mufasa’s (Simba’s father’s) backstory and how he became the king of the Pride Lands. Directed by Barry Jenkins, who made the Oscar-winning Moonlight, and featuring songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the most praised Broadway songwriter of his generation, Mufasa: The Lion King has some of the best production possible. 

Mufasa’s story is told to Kiara (Simba’s daughter) by Rafiki with Pumbaa and Timon acting as audience surrogates. It turns out that Mufasa doesn’t come from a royal bloodline despite having a name that means “king”. As a cub, he lives with his family until a flood kills his father and washes Mufasa away to a distant land. Here he meets a spoilt princeling named Taka. They grow up as brothers even though Taka’s father does not accept Mufasa. After an attack from a pack of lions called the Outsiders, Taka and Mufasa flee and embark on a journey to find paradise. 

During Mufasa’s travels, there is some gorgeous scenery to admire. The range of colorful vistas is more varied and engaging than the drab background of The Lion King. The songs are catchy as well, but they don’t have the karaoke-friendly melodies that Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs had in the first Lion King movie. There are also regular interruptions to the tale by Pumbaa and Timon. These interludes add comic relief that the main plot lacks. 

Overall, Mufasa: The Lion King is an enjoyable and inoffensive movie. However, it isn’t a work of art like its predecessor. The plot never picks up momentum because the audience knows that most of the characters survive and make it to the next movie. It is also obvious that, throughout the journey, one character is becoming noble while the other grows bitter. Moreover, the plot contradicts what is explained in The Lion King. All of this adds up to a movie that, while being entertaining, is largely unnecessary.