As a cinephile with a penchant for intimate, character-driven dramas and an appreciation for groundbreaking filmmakers like Barry Jenkins, I must admit that the news of him helming “Mufasa: The Lion King” initially left me perplexed. After all, here was a director known for his work on smaller-scale projects such as “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” taking on a big-budget, photo-realistic remake of a beloved Disney classic.
If you found it surprising that Barry Jenkins, famous for his smaller-scale dramas like Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, accepted the task of directing Mufasa: The Lion King, you’re not alone in your thinking. In fact, Jenkins himself initially thought he was an unusual choice for Disney. The project seemed so unconventional to him that he almost declined it without even reviewing the screenplay.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, Jenkins admitted that he initially felt he was an unusual pick to helm the prequel to Disney’s live-action/photo-realistic reboot of the 1994 animated film “The Lion King”. He jokingly shared, “When it first crossed my path, I certainly thought so too.” Upon receiving a call from his agent about a “Lion King” prequel project, Jenkins initially responded, “That’s not going to happen,” even before reading the script.
Indeed, the director was rather taken aback by the call from Disney, made through his agent, about the project. He was almost on the verge of declining the offer without even glancing at the script first (as one often suggests when emphasizing the importance of reading).
During the pandemic lockdowns and COVID restrictions of 2020, Jenkins received an initial inquiry about “Mufasa: The Lion King”. This timing seemed ideal for a much-needed break, but his partner and fellow filmmaker, Lulu Wang, persuaded him to read the script before outright refusing it. Eventually, due to Wang’s persistence, Jenkins delved into the screenplay and was astonished by its exceptional quality.
As he told it to GamesRadar+:
Initially, I intended to read five pages; however, around page 45, I turned to her and exclaimed, “Wow, this is fantastic!” The following day, I completed it. As a person well-versed in ‘The Lion King’, I was astounded by the number of assumptions I held about the characters and themes, which I thought were fixed. To be truthful, I was taken aback by how [screenwriter Jeff Nathanson] challenged these preconceptions, and how many elements that resonate with me seemed to be present in this work as well.
Barry Jenkins Was Known More For Smaller Indie Dramas Before Taking on ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’
Initially, it’s understandable if you found Jenkins’ choice to direct a large-scale, live-action/photo-realistic movie surprising, given his background in heartfelt human dramas. However, perhaps he felt a strong connection to the script? Following his nomination for Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards for his 2008 film, “Medicine for Melancholy,” Jenkins gained prominence with 2016’s “Moonlight.” This $4 million production ultimately grossed $65.2 million worldwide and earned Jenkins a Best Director Oscar nomination and a shared win for Best Adapted Screenplay with Tarell Alvin McCraney. The film also won Best Picture, following an amusing mix-up with “La La Land.
Following his historic nomination for Best Director with “Moonlight,” Jenkins subsequently directed “If Beale Street Could Talk,” a $12 million budgeted drama that garnered critical acclaim and another Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nod. Although the film didn’t achieve the same level of success as “Moonlight” (earning $20.6 million), it demonstrated Jenkins’ artistic prowess and ongoing development as a filmmaker. Surprisingly, his subsequent project was announced to be “Mufasa: The Lion King.
Information about the budget for the movie “Mufasa: The Lion King” is limited, but it’s likely to be around the same ballpark as its 2019 predecessor, which had a budget of approximately $250-260 million and grossed an astounding $1.657 billion worldwide. This production marks one of Jenkins’ largest projects to date, and despite some criticism for his choice to tackle something so “mainstream,” the director appears to have a strong connection with the film’s themes and characters. Jenkins emphasized that elements such as the relationships between brothers, the concept of found family, yearning, community, and legacy resonated deeply with him, mirroring explorations in his own work. The profound, unspoken emotions between the characters in their interpersonal relationships particularly struck a chord with him.
In this rendition, “The Lion King: Mufasa” functions as a kind of prequel and sequel, with the wise mandrill Rafiki (John Kani) narrating the backstory of Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) to Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter), the daughter of Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala (Beyoncé Knowles Carter), and granddaughter of Mufasa. The narrative unfolds, detailing Mufasa’s life as an orphan who finds friendship and a new family with prince Taka, eventually being adopted by them. As the bond between the brothers deepens, the story delves into the transformation of their affectionate relationship into one marred by resentment, leading to Taka’s metamorphosis into the vengeful lion known as Scar. The film features an impressive voice cast including Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, and Anika Noni Rose.
Mufasa: The Lion King
hits screens on Dec. 20.
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2024-11-29 05:03