Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

I must admit, I wasn’t really expecting a sequel, let alone a prequel, to the 2019 live-action remake of ‘The Lion King’. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it fine enough, but I prefer the original 1994 animated film compared to its 2019 live-action/CGI animated counterpart.

With that said, a prequel to the 2019 live-action film isn’t something I object to. After all, there hasn’t been a prequel to ‘The Lion King’ in animated form before. In terms of sequels, the 1994 film has had two in ‘Simba’s Pride’ and ‘Hakuna Matata’. Both were released direct to video.

And I get that the 2019 film needs to stand on its own in terms of its identity as opposed to be a retread of the 1994 film in live-action/CGI form. So, does that mean ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ has some potential? Does it work well in terms of being a prequel and a sequel?

Well, I certainly enjoyed the film when I saw it on the big screen on New Year’s Eve in 2024. I like the film manages to tell its own story whilst also having links to both the 2019 film and, to an extent, the animated 1994 movie and its sequels if you know where to find them.

The film ironically starts with scenes set after the events of the 2019 ‘Lion King’ film where Simba is King of the Pride Lands. Kiara is a young girl and Timon and Pumbaa have been ordered to look after her whilst he and Nala go to have…another young cub, apparently. 🙂

We get into the prequel part of the film where Rafiki tells Kiara the story of how Mufasa, Simba’s father, became King and formed the Pride Lands. It was fascinating how this story was told. I’m sure it would work well in original animated form as well as live-action/CGI.

Incidentally, I like how the film opens with a tribute to the late James Earl Jones who voiced Mufasa in the 1994 and 2019 films. I wondered if any tribute was going to be given to him following his recent passing and I’m pleased the film acknowledged him that way.

Also, it’s good to hear archive recordings of James Earl Jones at the beginning of the film. In this film, Mufasa is voiced by Aaron Piece. It’s interesting Mufasa started as an orphan after being separated from his parents before he got adopted by another pride of lions. 🙂

The film features Taka, voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who becomes Mufasa’s adoptive brother. It took me a while to realise that this would later be Scar, who became the villain in the 1994 and 2019 films. I like how the build-up is made to Taka getting the name ‘Scar’.

Rafiki is voiced by Kagiso Lediga in the prequel sections and by John Kania in the present day scenes. Timon is voiced by Billy Eichner and Pumbaa is voiced by Seth Rogen. I’m sorry, but I found these two annoying whenever they appeared in the present day scenes.

I prefer Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella’s versions of the characters as opposed to what the 2019 film and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King‘ have given us. 😐 There’s Sarabi, voiced by Tiffany Boone, who becomes Mufasa’s love interest. I like how their romance is formed in the film.

Simba is voiced by Donald Glover and Nala is voiced by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter from the 2019 film. There are some villainous white lions that appear in the film, led by Kiros, voiced by Mads Mikkelsen. I was quite surprised to uncover that white lions actually exist.

There’s Eshe, Taka’s mother and Mufasa’s adoptive mother, voiced by Thandiwe Newton; and Obasi, Taka’s father, voiced by Lennie James. Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter, is voiced by Blue Ivy Carter, making her feature film debut, apparently, and she’s very good.

Zazu appears in the film, voiced by Preston Nyman. Afia, Mufasa’s biological mother, is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, and Masego, Mufasa’s biological father, is voiced by Keith David. The voice cast are very good in the film and the CGI animation is quite excellent. 🙂

There are recognisable Hans Zimmer music cues featured throughout the film from both the 1994 and 2019 film. There are new songs provided by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who’s been in ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and done songs for ‘Encanto’ and 2023‘s ‘The Little Mermaid’.

My parents were very impressed with ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ as well as me. I’m very pleased I saw this film on the big screen. It was worthwhile and it served as a good origins story for Mufasa being King of the Pride Lands. I wouldn’t mind revisiting this film soon. 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂