Mufasa: The Lion King
Release date: December 20 (in theaters)
Stars: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani
Director: Barry Jenkins
The Lion King remake remains Disney’s all-time highest-grossing non-Marvel/Star Wars/Pixar movie in either animation or live-action, depending on which one you count it as. A follow-up was inevitable, but a prequel from the director of Moonlight feels like an unexpected direction. In Mufasa, Rafiki tells tales of Mufasa’s formative years to his granddaughter Kiara; Pierre faces the intimidating task of measuring up to the voice of young James Earl Jones. (Presumably, Hayden Christensen was not available.) [Luke Y. Thompson]
