- PG
- 1h 58m
- Directed by
-
- Barry Jenkins
- Screenplay
- Jeff Nathanson
- Premiered
- December 18, 2024
- Language
-
- English
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $200,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $722,631,756.00
- Awards
-
- 1 win & 17 nominations total
- Country
-
- United States of America
Mufasa: The Lion King
- Production
-
- Walt Disney Pictures
Spoiler
In the sprawling savanna of Pride Rock, a new dawn breaks. Simba (voiced by Donald Glover), now king, addresses his assembled subjects, heralding the arrival of a significant event with the hopeful pronouncement, "Ngomoso." His gaze finds Nala (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter), waiting for him amidst the tranquil beauty of an oasis. Their family is expanding, and Simba entrusts their youngest cub, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), to the care of the ever-entertaining duo, Timon and Pumbaa (Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen). A stern warning is issued: no tall tales for the little one. Yet, no sooner has Simba departed than the promise is broken. Timon and Pumbaa, with their characteristic flair for embellishment, launch into a dramatic recounting of the Battle of Pride Rock, conveniently casting themselves as the heroes who vanqu ground Scar (and, in their version, consumed him).
Their fanciful narrative is interrupted by the arrival of Rafiki (John Kani), the wise mandrill, who has a far more profound story to share with Kiara – one that delves into the lineage of her grandfather, Mufasa. This journey into the past reveals the formative years of the future king, a tale of resilience, friendship, and the forging of a legend.
The story unfolds with a young Mufasa, a cub living with his devoted mother, Afia (Anika Noni Rose), and his father, Masego (Keith David). Their early existence is in a humble enclosure, shared with other animals. Afia speaks to young Mufasa of "milele," a concept of eternal paradise, a potential future home for their kind. Their tranquil existence is shattered by the onset of a torrential rain, a welcome relief after a prolonged drought. However, the joy of the downpour quickly turns to terror as the rising waters threaten to engulf them all in a devastating flood. Masego bravely attempts to rescue his son, but a catastrophic event – an elephant crashing into a dam – separates Mufasa from his parents, sweeping him away in the torrent.
Adrift and alone, Mufasa spends days clinging to a log, a solitary figure at the mercy of the currents. His journey leads him to a riverbank where he encounters another cub, Taka (Theo Somolu). Their meeting is fraught with peril as two crocodiles lunge for Mufasa, but Taka’s quick thinking and bravery pull him to safety. They are discovered by Taka’s mother, Eshe (Thandiwe Newton), a lioness who initially scolds Taka for his association with a perceived stray. However, Taka’s earnest plea persuades Eshe to allow Mufasa to accompany them home.
Upon their arrival, Mufasa faces a stern reception from Taka’s father, Obasi (Lennie James), who immediately expresses disdain for Mufasa’s outsider status. Eshe intervenes, defending Mufasa, but Obasi imposes a harsh condition for Mufasa’s continued presence: he must race Taka to the Dead Tree and emerge victorious, or face being consumed by Obasi. Recognizing Mufasa’s struggle, Taka deliberately falters, allowing Mufasa to win and secure his place. Despite this, Mufasa is assigned to stay with Eshe and the other lionesses, while Taka finds solace in Mufasa’s companionship, admitting, "I Always Wanted a Brother."
Years mature Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) into inseparable companions. Yet, Obasi’s prejudice persists, warning Taka that Mufasa will eventually betray him and jeopardize his succession as king. Mufasa finds a maternal bond with Eshe, who has come to regard him as her own son, but the longing to reconnect with his birth parents remains a persistent ache.
Their fragile peace is shattered by an attack from two white lions, members of a formidable group known only as "The Outsiders." Mufasa bravely defends Eshe, while Taka succumbs to panic and flees. Mufasa engages in a fierce battle with one of the attackers, Sachu, inflicting a mortal wound before the other Outsider retreats. Taka is consumed by shame for his cowardice, but Obasi, witnessing Mufasa’s valor in protecting Eshe, finally bestows upon him a measure of respect. Obasi dispatches a scout to pursue the retreating Outsiders. The scout discovers the injured lion reporting to his leader, Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), who rules alongside his formidable sisters, Akua (Joanna Jones) and Amara (Folake Olowofoyeku). Enraged by the abandonment of his son, Sachu, Kiros orders the surviving lion to be torn apart. The scout returns with a dire warning: the Outsiders possess a numerical superiority and are advancing on Obasi’s pride.
The following day, Kiros and his legion launch a devastating assault on Obasi’s pride, a brutal confrontation captured in the song "Bye Bye." Mufasa and Taka are forced to flee, narrowly escaping over a waterfall, only to be pursued by another white lion. They manage to evade their pursuer and embark on a solitary journey, their sights set on finding "Milele." During their travels, they encounter Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), a lioness who had been discreetly tracking them. They are soon joined by Zazu (Preston Nyman), Sarabi’s loyal scout. Meanwhile, a younger Rafiki (Kagiso Lediga) faces exile from his community of monkeys due to his perceived prophetic visions. His friend, Junia (Thuso Mbedu), mourns his departure, but Rafiki remains optimistic about the path ahead.
Rafiki’s journey intersects with Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, and Zazu. After an initial, albeit brief, attempt by the lions to make him their prey, Rafiki joins their quest for Milele. Mufasa, initially wary of the mandrill, gradually develops an understanding with Rafiki, who seems to possess an uncanny insight into Mufasa’s inner turmoil. Mufasa begins to lead the group towards their destination, singing "We Go Together," unaware that Kiros and the Outsiders are relentlessly tracking their scent, having already annihilated Obasi, Eshe, and the rest of their pride.
A romantic tension simmers between Taka and Sarabi. Taka, unaccustomed to navigating such relationships, seeks Mufasa’s counsel. Mufasa offers gentle advice, suggesting observations like the scent of flowers Sarabi carries, but Taka’s attempts to connect remain awkward. Suddenly, Zazu’s warning cry signals the approaching Outsiders. In a desperate act of defense, Sarabi triggers an elephant stampede by dislodging a beehive. She is thrown and nearly trampled, but Mufasa bravely shields her with his body. Having narrowly escaped the stampede and the pursuing Outsiders, Mufasa attempts to attribute Sarabi’s rescue to Taka.
The group seeks refuge in the stark beauty of snowy mountains, meticulously covering their tracks to evade detection. One night, Sarabi confides in Mufasa, revealing her awareness that he was her rescuer and her knowledge of the flora from her homeland. A tender romance blossoms between them, expressed in the song "Tell Me It’s You." Taka witnesses this burgeoning love and feels a profound sense of betrayal, his emotions captured in "Brother Betrayed." Consumed by resentment, he seeks out Kiros and the Outsiders, forging an alliance to bring Mufasa down.
Their arduous journey culminates in reaching Milele, a paradise that lives up to Mufasa’s every expectation. However, their sanctuary is short-lived. Taka, by leaving a trail of clues, has led Kiros and the Outsiders directly to them. Mufasa confronts Taka, who justifies his actions by claiming Mufasa has stolen everything meant for him – his birthright to kingship and Sarabi. A brief confrontation with Kiros ensues, after which Mufasa rallies the diverse animal inhabitants of the valley to unite against the encroaching threat, despite some blaming him for drawing the Outsiders to their land.
During the ensuing chaos, Mufasa tumbles into a cave, with Kiros in pursuit. Meanwhile, Sarabi leads the lionesses in a fierce battle against the Outsiders. Taka finds Mufasa and Kiros, and in a pivotal moment, intervenes to take a swipe intended for Mufasa. This act results in Kiros slashing Taka’s face, inflicting the iconic scar that will forever mark him. As Akua and Amara prepare to deliver a final blow, the ground beneath them, destabilized by the charging animals below, begins to collapse. The Outsiders plummet to their deaths, their demise inadvertently shaping the very landscape that will become Pride Rock. Mufasa and Kiros fall into the water, but Kiros is crushed by a falling boulder and pulled into the depths. Mufasa surfaces, and for a fleeting moment, Taka contemplates allowing his former friend to drown, a chilling precursor to the "long live the king" pronouncements of the future. However, Taka ultimately pulls Mufasa to safety.
The assembled animals, witnessing Mufasa’s courage and leadership, begin to view him as their king. Mufasa, however, initially declines, feeling unworthy of the title. Rafiki intervenes, reminding Mufasa that he united them, and in a powerful display of respect, the animals bow to him. Zazu, ever the loyal advisor, urges Mufasa to banish Taka. Mufasa, however, chooses forgiveness, though he refuses to utter Taka’s name, instead bestowing upon him the moniker "Scar" as a perpetual reminder of his transgressions. In a poignant reunion, Mufasa is reunited with his mother, Afia, who confirms the passing of his father, Masego. With a new family and a renewed sense of purpose, Mufasa ascends Pride Rock and lets out a powerful, triumphant roar.
Back in the present, Rafiki concludes his epic tale, with Timon and Pumbaa offering their own, somewhat self-centered, "notes" on their limited involvement. Kiara expresses a wish to have met her grandfather, but Rafiki assures her that Mufasa’s spirit lives on within her. She gazes at the sky, and as she lets out a roar, Mufasa’s visage appears in the clouds, seemingly roaring back in acknowledgment. Simba and Nala return, introducing their newest addition, Kion, Kiara’s younger brother. With the circle of life continuing, Kiara begins to share the story of a great king with her new sibling.
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