The Walt Disney Company has produced many films over their 100-year history, beloved by generations of families. The Disney Renaissance is a term that encompasses several successful animated Disney films, starting with The Little Mermaid in 1989 and ending with Tarzan in 1999. This period is fondly remembered as the revitalisation of the animation industry, with new technology and storytelling techniques playing a vital role in this success.

1994’s The Lion King delighted audiences with a coming-of-age tale that explored philosophy revolving around destiny and the “Circle of Life”. Simba’s story broke box office records as the highest-grossing film of 1994. The 2019 photorealistic animated remake followed suit, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, before being dethroned by Disney’s Inside Out 2 earlier this year.

Releasing on December 19th, Mufasa: The Lion King is a follow-up to the smash-hit remake. In anticipation of this sequel/prequel, let’s examine why you should be excited for the return of “The Lion King”.

LION KING 2 AND 1/2

Sarabi (voiced by Tiffany Boone), Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre), and Rafiki (voiced by John Kani)

Mufasa: The Lion King follows the tale of Mufasa and Scar, told in flashbacks. Rafiki narrates this story and its happenings in the present, to Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. With Timon and Pumbaa present during this retelling, it will be no surprise if they bring some hilarious commentary into the mix.

In the beginning, Mufasa was an orphaned cub, abandoned and alone until a faithful encounter with Taka, heir to the royal bloodline. The two form a brotherly bond, which is tested when the kingdom comes under siege by another pride of lions. The two must work together to survive and repel the invaders. This tale will lead to Taka becoming “Scar” and Mufasa ascending as heir to the throne.

The film has a unique opportunity to world-build and flesh out the relationship between Mufasa and Scar before the events of The Lion King. But also to utilise this world-building to the present and catch up with beloved characters like Rafiki, Timon, Pumbaa, and of course, Simba and Nala. To have Rafiki tell this story of the past to the next generation, is very befitting of the “Circle of Life” ideology that is heavily involved in the story and themes of the franchise.

This sequel could potentially follow in the footsteps of the Direct-to-Video/DVD film and TV series follow-ups to the 1994 original that expanded the canon. The sequel films include The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride and The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (also known as The Lion King 1 ½).

Pumbaa (voiced by Seth Rogen) and Timon (voiced by Billy Eichner)

The Lion King’s Timon and Pumbaa TV show was a fun and frivolous spin-off based on the buddy duo. However The Lion Guard TV series was a significant expansion that explored the gap between the original and Simba’s Pride. The series introduced and followed the adventures of Kiara’s younger brother, Kion.

Despite the noticeable changes in Mufasa and Scar’s origins, the presence of Kiara, who first appeared in Simba’s Pride, indicates that Mufasa: The Lion King will take heavy inspiration from the extended canon. It will be interesting to see how the film balances these new and established story beats. After all, it’s a sequel to the 2019 remake, so we expect some creative liberties to create a fresh and engaging story, but that it also keeps authenticity to the original in mind.

BEHIND THE PRIDE

The star-studded cast has a mixture of new and returning talent. Newcomers include Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara and Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros. Expect to hear familiar voices with Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, and Billy Eichner reprising their roles as Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon respectively.

Behind the cast is an equally talented crew, with director Barry Jenkins at the helm. He directed the 2016 critically acclaimed and Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight. Dave Metzger and Nicholas Britell are composing the film’s score while Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known for creating the Broadway hit musical Hamilton, is responsible for the film’s original songs.

Miranda spoke briefly about the project and The Lion King legacy with D23.com when the teaser trailer was released back in April. “The Lion King has an incredible musical legacy with music from some of the greatest songwriters around, and I’m humbled and proud to be a part of it. It’s been a joy working alongside [director] Barry Jenkins to bring Mufasa’s story to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this film in theatres.”

Mufasa: The Lion King has a strong foundation to be a holiday triumph. The talented cast and crew of new and returning faces ensure that the franchise stays fresh, with the familiar story to thrill and surprise fans of all ages.