The Lion King 2 director Barry Jenkins teases new storylines that can be expected from Disney's highly anticipated prequel. The Lion King's original theatrical release back in 1994 brought both critical acclaim and stole audiences’ hearts - ranking as the second-highest earning film of all time, right behind 1993’s Jurassic Park.
Ever since then, The Lion King franchise has continued to grow and expand throughout various different mediums - including The Lion King hit musical on Broadway, video games, books, sequels and spinoffs. The last director to take on the franchise was Jon Favreau, who helmed Disney's CGI 2019 remake of The Lion King. However, the film was ultimately met with much criticism and an overall significantly lower rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well. As a result, famous director Barry Jenkins came onto the scene, confirming that he had officially signed on for the prequel.
The prequel to Favreau's 2019 remake is set to focus more on a young Mufasa and his brother Scar. The upcoming movie is set to deeply explore and interrogate the complicated relationship between the two brothers and why they harbor so much resentment and disdain for one another - ultimately rendering them rivals as opposed to blood. In a recent interview with Variety, Jenkins revealed that upon first read, he was completely “blown away by how good the script was.” He also teased some new plot details surrounding the Disney prequel. He stated, “I grew up with these characters. They mean so much to me. I think the work that Jeff Nathanson, the writer, did and going back into really helping children, and anyone who ever loved this property understands what it takes."
Though Jenkins was slim on the details, he did let fans know that The Lion King prequel will give audiences a sense of how Mufasa came to be king everyone knows. "Kings aren’t just born, they aren’t just made," Jenkins said. "They have to become who they are through a series of events that a lot of people can relate to. So, I feel no pressure. I just want to do a good job.”
Although taking on an animated classic such as The Lion King would intimate and perhaps instill fear in other directors, Jenkins is so laser focused on doing his best that he has no time to feel the pressure of others, only himself. He speaks on the fact that because he has such a personal connection to these characters, the tunnel vision of creating the best possible film he can is all he sees. Regardless of the director’s strong confidence, taking on such a beloved franchise as The Lion King is no small feat. However, if his statement regarding the qualities that make up a true king are any indication of the tone for the film, it seems destined for success.
The Lion King prequel is in development at Disney.
Source: Variety