‘Mufasa’ Review: Be Prepared (For a Disappointing Prequel)
ScreenCrushStory by Matt Singer
scrn logline
Disney's 'Mufasa' prequel fails to roar, as director Barry Jenkins' take on 'The Lion King' origin story stumbles through a web of unnecessary details and forgettable music.
beat sheet
- Despite the talent of director Barry Jenkins, 'Mufasa' lacks his signature style, feeling more like another cog in Disney's 'live-action' remake machine than a distinctive vision.
- Beyoncé's blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo as Nala highlights the film's bloated roster of characters, as it tries to fill in backstories no one asked for, from Rafiki's cane to the look of Pride Rock.
call sheet
Matt Singer, Barry Jenkins, Jon Favreau, Beyoncé, Donald Glover, John Kani, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Blue Ivy Carter, James Earl Jones, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lennie James, Mads Mikkelsen, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Disney, Mufasa: The Lion King, The Lion King, Moana 2