The King has returned! Barry Jenkins’ Lion King prequel - Mufasa: The Lion King - has released in theaters and I had the chance to check it out just recently. The Lion King is my favorite animated film of all-time but beyond further reflection and pondering, the remake was quite a big letdown that lacked much of the soul and creativity of that original animated film. That’s why I was very skeptical about Barry Jenkins’ prequel and I wanted nothing more than to be excited about more movies set in the continuity of The Lion King. Barry Jenkins’ involvement certainly had my curiosity piqued though. Did the movie win me over, or is this yet another soulless live-action Disney film? Find out in this review!

Mufasa: The Lion King:

Directed by: Barry Jenkins

Screenplay by: Jeff Nathanson

Based off the characters created by: Linda Woolverton and Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts

Produced by: Mark Ceryak, Adele Romanski, Genevieve Hofmeyr

Executive Producer: Peter Tobyansen

Music by: Dave Metzger

Cinematography by: James Laxton

Editing by: Joi McMillon

Casting by: Francine Maisler, Molly Rose

Production Design by: Mark Friedberg

Cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé

Synopsis: Told in flashbacks, Mufasa is an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny and working together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.