Warning: this article contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King
Despite receiving mixed reviews, Mufasa: The Lion King has continued to find success at the box office. The film tells the origin story of Scar and Mufasa before the events of the original 1990s classic. While the main characters are Scar and Mufasa, the film also explores how other familiar faces from The Lion King first met the central duo.
However, one aspect of the film that has been criticized is the handling of characters from the previous movie. Specifically, Donald Glover and Beyoncé, who played Simba and Nala in the 2019 remake, have much smaller roles in Mufasa. They appear at the beginning and end of the film, with the plot reason being that they go to an oasis so that Nala can give birth to another child.
The reasons for their limited screen time are likely due to their irrelevance to the story and the cost of bringing them onboard. They are the biggest and most expensive names in the series, and Disney would have wanted to spend less money on them, as this film was never going to focus on Mufasa and Nala anyway.
Another missed opportunity is the lack of a new song from Donald Glover and Beyoncé. As excellent singers, their presence in a musical film would have guaranteed solid performances. The Lion King’s songs are mostly from the original animated classic, with a few new compositions, while Mufasa’s soundtrack contains a plethora of new, original songs. It would have been great to hear Glover and Beyoncé perform a new piece together.
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
