Is Mufasa: The Lion King “Soulless”? Director Strikes Back Against Criticism

Director Barry Jenkins, known for helming Oscar-winner Moonlight, was prepared like Scar to defend Mufasa: The Lion King, which just received its first teaser trailer. The filmmaker responded to a social media post that said the prequel/sequel is just another cog in Disney CEO Bob “Iger’s soulless machine.”

Spotted by The Hollywood Reporter, Jenkins took exception to the comment on X (formerly known as Twitter), which also said the director was “too good and talented” for Mufasa. “There is nothing soulless about The Lion King,” Jenkins replied. “For decades children have sat in theaters all over the world experiencing collective grief for the first time, engaging Shakespeare for the first time, across aisles in myriad languages. A most potent vessel for communal empathy.”

It may come as a surprise that Jenkins is helming Mufasa, as it’s his first time directing again on the silver screen since 2018’s If Beale Street Could Talk. Before that, he helmed 2016’s Moonlight, which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. However, Jenkins announced his involvement with The Lion King prequel back in 2020. Mufasa serves as a prequel and sequel to the photorealistic The Lion King remake from 2019.

Disney debuted the trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King earlier this week. Aaron Pierre is voicing Mufasa, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. will do the same for Taka–the name of Scar before he got… well, his scar. The movie will also see the return of Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billey Eichner as Timon, and John Kani as Rafiki. Donald Glover and Beyonce are supposed to be back, too, as Simba and Nala, respectively.