It is common knowledge by now that Disney is the king of live-action remakes, yet their newest movie,Mufasa: The Lion King, proves that one important element makes some live-action movies better than others. Released in December 2024,Mufasa: The Lion Kingis a live-action prequelthat followsThe Lion King’sMufasa in his youth,alongside his adopted brother, Scar, now known as Taka. In just a week, the movie has already grossed $221 million at the box office, and has received an optimistic 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it generally successful.
Disney has been producing live-action remakesof their most successful movies since the 2010s to varying degrees of success. 2019’sThe Lion Kingis Disney’s highest-grossing live-action remake filmwith an impressive $1.7 billion to its name. In 2017,Beauty and the Beastalso broke the billion dollar barrier, raking in $1.3 billion. However, other live-action Disney remakes haven’t done as well. Most recently,The Little Mermaidlive-action remake only grossed $569 million. Fortunately,Mufasahas revealed a potential key to making every live-action Disney movie at least a little bit better.
Mufasa Is An Original Story Within The Live-Action “Remakes” Brand
How Mufasa Reworks The Lion King Story
AlthoughMufasais not technically a remake, it still falls under Disney’s brand of “live-action” remakes. The movie uses elements of an old story and reshapes it in a totally new way, carrying on the tradition of 2019’sThe Lion Kingremake. In reality, this is what makesMufasaso exciting, especially in comparison to other Disney remakes. UnlikeThe Little MermaidorBeauty and the Beast,audiences have gone intoMufasanot knowing what to expect.Although they know Mufasa’s fate, they are able to see a new side of the character (and others) that Disney has never explored before.
Mufasa: The Lion King: Cast & Character Guide
Find out who voices Mufasa and the rest of the pack in the 2024 Lion King prequel.
Mufasais a particularly interesting project to analyze because it toes the line between the new and the familiar. While the movie sees the return of characters that audiences know and love, from Zazu to Timon and Pumba, it also transforms these characters in new ways. Taka is not necessarily the villain that viewers might be expecting, and Mufasa may not be as regal as he is inThe Lion King.Most importantly though,Mufasahas its own independent story, separate fromThe Lion King.Mufasabenefits from being fresh and surprising.
Live-Action Disney Remakes Are Best When They’re Original
Disney’s Has The Chance To Expand On Beloved Stories
The biggest takeaway fromMufasais thatDisney should move forward with more original live-action films. AlthoughMufasahasn’t proven itself to be exceptionally profitable yet, its budding success highlights a trend among Disney movies. As much as audiences love to see their favorite animated classics come to life, they also enjoy a spin on a familiar story. For example,Cruelladid quite well in 2021, despite having few ties to the original101 Dalmations. Maleficentis another live-action Disney movie that put a new take on an old story and succeeded.
Disney has such a long resume of great stories that they could be taking advantage of beyond just simple remakes.
Disney has such a long resume of great stories that they could be taking advantage of beyond just simple remakes. With time and reflection,the company now has the chance to make their stories even better by delving into different sides of them. Villain origin stories, prequels, and sequels are all strong ways to bring a story back to life without beating a dead horse.The Little Mermaideven tried to do this with a more in-depth look at Eric’s kingdom, though it could have gone even farther, and should do so in the future.
Disney’s Problem With Live-Action Remakes Is Impossible To Avoid
Disney Could Still Renew Old Stories
Of course, makingmore original live-action filmsis easier said than done. Now that Disney has committed themselves to remaking their animated movies,audiences will be expecting the initial movie to get a live-action adaptation before an original live-action movie can be released, just like howMufasacame after the live-actionThe Lion King.AlthoughCruellaandMaleficentcame out without101 DalmationsorSleeping Beautygetting live-action movies, this is a risky move, and could end up hurting the originals more than anything. Thus, Disney must keep their promises, even if it hurts them.
Even then, Disney still has an opportunity to do new things with its live-action remakes, and they should. Already, the company is making strides to cast actors who are the appropriate race and age for their given character. Additionally, movies likeAladdinandThe Little Mermaidhave proven that additions can be made and make a movie better. In this way, Disney’s ultimate goal with its live-action remakes should be to make its original stories even better and establish a world that can be expanded in various directions.
More Live-Action Disney “Remakes” Need To Be Like Mufasa
Disney’s Live-Action Future Explained
In the end, Disney needs to take a page from its own book. The company has a number of new movies on the horizon, ranging from new animated features to live-action remakes. However, no matter what it is they’re making,Disney should prioritize originality over everything else.LikeMufasa,Disney’s future movies should build on their original concepts, not just repeat them. Audiences need to see why these movies are being remade in the first place. So, new songs, new scenes, and new ideas should all be welcome in Disney’s future.
10 Perfectly Cast Live-Action Disney Roles
Say what you will about Disney’s numerous live-action remakes, but these characters were perfectly cast in both remade and original live-action films.
Disney has a few big projects coming up. In terms of live-action remakes, 2025 will seeSnow WhiteandLilo & Stitch,while 2026 will see a live-actionMoana.A few sequels are also happening, includingToy Story 5, Zootopia 2,andFreakier Friday.Plus,Eliowill be Disney’s big animated film in 2025. Hopefully, Disney can infuse all of these upcoming films withMufasa’ssense of newness, which will keep viewers invested. It is no surprise that Disney has stayed in business for so long, but the company must also refine its recipe if it wants to impress audiences.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
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.
