"The Lion King": Perhaps one of the most popular animated movies of all time. In 2019, a live-action remake was released with the same name, which achieved worldwide box office takings of over 1.6 billion dollars - even if not everyone was impressed by the remake. Now Disney is taking a chance, as they're bringing a prequel to the popular story to the movies with "Mufasa". The first trailer already reveals where the journey is heading - and it is once again causing controversy. In today's Original, you can learn all the important information about what to expect in this animal adventure!

The Plot of Mufasa: The Lion King

The title already gives it away: the movie revolves around Simba's father Mufasa. The film is based on the book "A Tale of Two Brothers", which was published in 1994. In the book, the young Mufasa is separated from his parents and then saved by another lion cub called Taka. The two become friends and grow up together like brothers. As the years go by, they are faced with a group of other lions who pose a threat to their existence - Mufasa and Taka have to flee. On their journey, they encounter all kinds of dangers that put their loyalty to each other to the test. We will also find out how Taka eventually becomes the villain we all know as Scar - and how he gets his name-giving scar.

Impressions and Details of the First Mufasa Trailer

The first "Mufasa" trailer doesn't reveal much about the story yet, but it does provide some interesting details. For example, we see the two protagonists both as cubs and having matured into bigger lions. There is also a snowy landscape - a clear sign that Mufasa has a long way to go.

At the start of the trailer, Rafiki announces that Mufasa has no royal lineage, unlike Taka, who, according to the official story, is the actual heir to the throne. So we can imagine why Scar will later become extremely upset about the fact that his former best friend has become the Lion King in his stead.

Many discussions were caused by the appearance of Timon and Pumbaa, who are not really expected to play a major role in Mufasa's backstory. In fact, the movie's story will probably be narrated by Rafiki - and the popular duo are among his eager listeners, as is Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala.

Reactions to the trailer have been overwhelmingly positive. Many were impressed by the visual quality of the effects. Interestingly, however, there were also many voices claiming the exact opposite - talking of a "video game" look, among other things. Not to mention the usual criticism that Disney is merely interested in making money with all its remakes and sequels.

Cast and Crew

The movie's cast promises a reunion with numerous characters from its predecessor: in addition to Rafiki in both old and young, Simba and Nala are also included, as are their royal advisor Zazu and of course Timon and Pumbaa. In addition to the frame story, the majority of the film will surely be set in the past. Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre take on the main roles of Taka and Mufasa. Their parents will also have a part to play in the movie, as will a lion named Kiros, voiced by Mads Mikkelsen. We highly suspect that he will probably be the villain of the movie.

The movie is directed by award-winning director Barry Jenkins, who caused a sensation with his work "Moonlight". The screenplay was written by Linda Woolverton, who also penned the script for the animated version of "The Lion King" - so she's a true veteran of the series.

The score is once again by Hans Zimmer, in collaboration with Nicholas Britell and pop star Pharrell Williams. Director Barry Jenkins also revealed that the film will feature a number of completely new songs - these are by "Hamilton" and "Encanto" mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda.

When Will the Movie Be Released?

Whether "Mufasa: The Lion King" can ultimately meet the expectations of fans remains to be seen. After the hype surrounding the first trailer, a little patience is still required: the movie will be released in theaters on December 20, 2024.