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In 'Mufasa,' every question you never had about 'The Lion King' is answered

NPR | By Stephen Thompson,

Aisha Harris, Tre'vell Anderson, Shamira Ibrahim, Liz Metzger, Lennon Sherburne, Mike Katzif, Jessica Reedy

Published December 20, 2024 at 8:55 AM EST

Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in Mufasa: The Lion King. — Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in *Mufasa: The Lion King*.

It's been five years since Disney remade its animated classic The Lion King as a photorealistic blockbuster. This leads us to Mufasa: The Lion King, a new prequel telling the story of Mufasa's rise — as well as the origins of his rivalry with Scar. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk) and features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.

See stories by Stephen Thompson

Aisha Harris

Aisha Harris is a critic and host of Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe: Reckonings With the Pop Culture That Shapes Me.

See stories by Aisha Harris

Tre'vell Anderson

Shamira Ibrahim

Shamira Ibrahim is a Brooklyn-based culture writer by way of Harlem, Canada, and East Africa, who explores identity and cultural production as a critic, reporter, feature/profile writer, and essayist.

Liz Metzger

Lennon Sherburne

Mike Katzif

Jessica Reedy

See stories by Jessica Reedy

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