“There, that’s where I am”: Barry Jenkins Responds to Being Called Too Talented for Mufasa: The Lion King
It’s been more than 3 decades since The Lion King has been released. The film still continues to be a beloved movie because it resonates with all ages. Many fans grew up watching The Lion King and associate it with happy childhood memories.
Simba, Mufasa, Scar, Timon, and Pumbaa are all distinct and well-developed characters. The hand-drawn animation in the original film is widely considered a masterpiece. The visuals are lush and contribute to the emotional impact of the story.
The 1994 animated film is credited with being the first time many children experienced the emotions of grief and loss. Director Barry Jenkins tackles this surprising fact more as he defends his decision to helm the upcoming prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King. Lately, though, he’s been getting some heat on social media for taking on the Disney project.
Barry Jenkins Addresses Criticism Over Directing Disney Prequel
When Barry Jenkins, the director behind Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, announced he’d be working on Mufasa: The Lion King, some critics weren’t too happy to hear that. They argued that his talent was better suited for original works rather than a Disney prequel.
The 44-year-old, though, defended his choice pointing out how impactful The Lion King is. He said it resonates deeply with audiences, especially children, teaching them about tough topics like grief and compassion.
There is nothing soulless about The Lion King. 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.
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) April 29, 2024
While some fear Jenkins’ creativity will be stifled working with Disney on the prequel of 2019 flick, the director himself remains optimistic. He thinks working within a familiar world can actually help him explore new ideas.
Barry Jenkins Finds Creative Outlet in Familiar Territory
Barry Jenkins isn’t just directing Mufasa: The Lion King, he’s going beyond a simple paycheck. He sees it as a chance to give today’s kids the same powerful feelings he had when he first saw the original movie. The Miami native said in an interview with Empire Magazine:
“When you step into a world that already exists, it can be easy to assume that freedom is denied. I think, instead, you have to just work to create freedom, and I think that was what this process was. A friend once said to me, ‘You’ve done the thing you set out to do when, 10 years on, you could put the film up on the wall and point to it and go, ‘There, that’s where I am.’’
He also talked about how he juggled multiple projects about childhood, showing that his artistic vision remains strong even in commercial ventures. This isn’t about a director giving in to Disney; it’s about an artist finding a creative outlet in something familiar. Jenkins puts it simply: “That’s where I am.” It shows that he’s staying true to his artistic vision no matter what he’s working on.
Mufasa: The Lion King is set to release on December 20th, 2024.
