Wait, so Mufasa wasn't actually born into royalty? Honestly, that’s the first thing that hits you when you sit down to watch the 2024 film Mufasa: The Lion King. For decades, we all just assumed he was the golden child of some ancient, prestigious bloodline, and Scar was the jealous "spare." But Disney basically flipped the script.
It turns out the king we grew up worshipping started as a literal nobody. An orphan. Just a lost cub swept away by a flood, trying to survive in a world that didn't want him.
If you’re confused about how this fits with the original movies or why people are calling this "Lion King 2" when that title already belongs to a movie about Simba's daughter, you aren't alone. The timeline is a bit of a mess if you don't look closely.
Mufasa: The Lion King vs. Simba’s Pride: Which is the Real Sequel?
Technically, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel, but it serves as a follow-up to the 2019 photorealistic remake. In the world of 2026, we’ve got two distinct "Lion King" universes. You’ve got the 1994 hand-drawn masterpiece and its direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. Then you’ve got the CGI world.
In Simba’s Pride, Mufasa is already dead. He shows up as a ghost in the clouds or a voice in the wind, trying to guide a very stressed-out Simba. He’s basically the "Past King" acting as a cosmic matchmaker for Kiara and Kovu.
But in the new Mufasa movie, we go backward. Rafiki is telling the story to Kiara (voiced by Blue Ivy Carter), taking us to the very beginning.
It’s weirdly emotional to see Mufasa as a vulnerable kid. He wasn't born with that "industrial-strength gravitas" Aaron Pierre brings to the role. He was just a cub named Mufasa who got lucky when a royal heir named Taka found him.
The Taka Twist: Why Scar Isn't Who You Think
The biggest shocker? Mufasa and Scar aren't biological brothers.
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Yeah, read that again.
Taka—who we know will eventually become the murderous Scar—actually saved Mufasa. He welcomed an outsider into his family. They grew up as brothers by choice, not by blood.
So why did it all go south? Basically, life happened. Mufasa was the "doer." While Taka was lounging around, Mufasa was out there learning to hunt, tracking smells, and actually doing the work of a leader. When a group of white lions led by a guy named Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) started threatening everyone, Mufasa stepped up.
Taka didn't.
It’s that classic "meritocracy vs. birthright" argument. Taka felt like the throne belonged to him because of his DNA. The rest of the animals looked at Mufasa and saw a guy who actually cared about them. When Sarabi chose Mufasa over Taka, that was the final straw.
Taka’s descent into "Scar" wasn't just about one bad day; it was a slow-motion car crash of resentment. Mufasa even tried to forgive him at the end. He told Taka he could stay in the pride, but he wouldn't use Taka's name anymore because of the betrayal. That’s how Taka officially took the name Scar. It was a brand of shame, not a nickname.
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Why This Prequel Actually Changes The Lion King 2
If Disney decides to remake Simba's Pride using this new CGI style, the stakes are way higher now.
In the original animated sequel, the "Outsiders" were just random lions who liked Scar. It felt a bit thin. But the Mufasa prequel introduces Kiros and his white lions—creatures who were cast out for how they looked.
If Simba has to face descendants of those lions later, it’s not just a fight; it’s a reckoning with his father’s history.
What the Critics Are Saying (And They Aren't Holding Back)
Look, the movie is a technical marvel. The way they render the fur and the light hitting a water droplet is insane. But a lot of people feel like it’s missing that "soul" the 1994 version had.
Director Barry Jenkins is a legend—this is the guy who gave us Moonlight. You can see him trying to inject real themes like colonial oppression and the struggle of the displaced. But sometimes, it feels like the "Disney machine" wins over the artistic vision.
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The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda are catchy, but let’s be real: they aren't "Circle of Life." They're good, but maybe not "generational classic" good.
- Aaron Pierre: Does a solid job filling James Earl Jones' massive shoes.
- Kelvin Harrison Jr.: Makes you actually feel bad for Scar (for a minute).
- The Animation: Beautiful, but some find the photorealistic faces a bit "stiff" or "uncanny."
The Legacy of Mufasa
What most people get wrong about Mufasa is thinking he was perfect. The prequel shows he was an outcast. He struggled with identity. He wasn't a king because he was born one; he was a king because he chose to lead through compassion rather than fear.
That makes his death in the original movie even more tragic. He didn't just lose a brother; he lost the person who originally saved him.
If you’re planning a rewatch or diving into this new era of Pride Lands lore, keep an eye on the parallels between Mufasa’s upbringing and Simba’s exile. They both had to find themselves in the wilderness. The difference is Mufasa did it without a kingdom waiting for him at the end. He had to build the kingdom himself.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the 2019 remake first: It sets the visual tone for the Mufasa prequel.
- Compare the brothers: Re-watch the original Lion King (1994) after seeing the prequel. Knowing they aren't blood brothers makes Scar’s "I’m at the shallow end of the gene pool" line hit completely differently.
- Check the soundtrack: Listen to "I Didn't Always Have a Name" to get a better sense of Mufasa's mindset as an orphan cub.