5 The Lion King Sequels Mufasa Sets Up

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Mufasa: The Lion King.Mufasa: The Lion King sets up several potential sequels and spinoff movies. The new movie serves as both a prequel and sequel to 2019’s The Lion King. Most of the story takes place in the past, which reveals the origins of Mufasa and Scar’s complex relationship. However, the movie is also set after the events of The Lion King, with Rafiki telling the story of Mufasa’s past to Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara, a tale that is interrupted at various points by Timon and Pumbaa.

The Lion King franchise had a history of sequels and spinoffs before the 2019 remake. An animated direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, was released in 1998. In 2004, the franchise continued with the animated direct-to-video The Lion King 1 1/2, which offers a comedic look at the events of the original movie through Timon and Pumbaa’s perspectives. There have also been multiple spinoff television series. Mufasa: The Lion King‘s ending now offers yet another avenue for the franchise to continue.

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Simba’s Pride

A Sequel Focused On Kiara Can Partly Adapt The 1998 Movie

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A Mufasa: The Lion King sequel could follow Kiara, along with Simba and Nala’s new son. The sequel could follow the next generation of Lion King characters and potentially adapt elements from Simba’s Pride. The 1998 sequel’s story sees Kiara falling in love with Kovu, who belongs to a pride that was previously loyal to Scar. This love story could be the basis of the franchise’s next installment, brought to life by stunning photorealistic animation.

Scar looking alarmed and Mufasa looking regal in Mufasa: The Lion King

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This would provide payoff for the decision to have Mufasa: The Lion King partly be a sequel. Kiara is now an established character in The Lion King‘s “live-action” continuity, and with the lessons she has learned from the story of Mufasa and Scar, she is better prepared to be at the forefront of her own adventure in the next movie. Mufasa: The Lion King has also shown her dynamic with her parents, with Rafiki, and with Timon and Pumbaa, which could carry over into a sequel.

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A Timon & Pumbaa Movie

The Comedic Duo Can Get Their Own Story

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Timon and Pumbaa’s role in Mufasa: The Lion King is primarily to add comedy, although their interjections prove to be jarring and ultimately undermine the narrative pacing of Mufasa and Scar’s origin story. The iconic duo would be better served by having their own spinoff movie where their antics would feel like more of a natural fit. The Lion King 1 1/2 was essentially a Timon and Pumbaa movie, and they also had their own television series in the past.

The Lion King 1 1/2 reveals that Pumbaa’s farts affected significant moments in the original Lion King.

A Timon and Pumbaa movie could borrow story beats from The Lion King 1 1/2 and from their television series to now give them their own movie. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen voiced the characters in the 2019 and 2024 movies and would likely be willing to reprise the roles to lead a Timon and Pumbaa movie. It could take place before or after the events of the 2019 Lion King depending on the narrative direction that the creative team behind it decides to take.

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A Scar & Hyenas Movie

This Can Bridge The Gap Between The 2019 And 2024 Movies

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One aspect of Scar’s origin story that is not explored in the 2024 movie is his relationship with the hyenas. Other than being briefly seen among the other animals in the land of Milele at the end of Mufasa: The Lion King, the hyenas are not in the franchise’s latest installment, and do not play a significant role in the movie. A movie set between Mufasa becoming king and the start of the 2019 movie could explore the hyenas in greater depth, along with their connection to Scar.

Along with seeing the hyenas becoming a greater threat, the story could see Scar becoming more resentful, losing any of the regret he feels for betraying Mufasa, and instead becoming fixated on his desire for the throne.

Part of this exploration would be why the hyenas are exiled and feared, which is likely connected to them overhunting and not respecting the peaceful circle of life under Mufasa’s reign. Along with seeing the hyenas becoming a greater threat, the story could see Scar becoming more resentful, losing any of the regret he feels for betraying Mufasa, and instead becoming fixated on his desire for the throne. This could include making the hyenas part of his plan and would fill in the missing gaps between Mufasa: The Lion King and the 2019 movie.

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The Lion Guard

A Movie Sequel Can Adapt The TV Series

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The Lion Guard television series focuses on Simba and Nala’s son, Kion. Since Simba and Nala’s son is introduced at the end of Mufasa: The Lion King, there is a good chance of him being Kion, and that a sequel could incorporate other characters and elements from The Lion Guard series. Bunga the honey badger, Beshte the hippopotamus, Fuli the cheetah, and Ono the egret are other members of the Lion Guard led by Kion that defend the Pride Lands, all of whom could be featured in a Lion Guard movie.

This may be one of the best ways for the franchise to move forward with a largely new cast of characters. Despite the introduction of the villainous Kiros and the Outsiders, Mufasa: The Lion King‘s cast is still primarily made up of characters who have been well-known since the original movie was released in 1994. The Lion Guard aired from 2015-2019, but it is not as well known as the original movie, making the adventures of Kion and his friends a new story for the majority of audiences.

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A Rafiki Movie

He Has What It Takes To Get His Own Story

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The wise and eccentric Rafiki is one of The Lion King franchise’s best characters and an individual who is compelling enough to lead his own movie. Since he is alive before and after the events of The Lion King, a Rafiki movie could take place at a wide range of points in the timeline. Mufasa: The Lion King briefly shows the community of baboons that Rafiki came from, with a Rafiki movie possibly showing more of his time with them before he was exiled for being too different.

Mufasa-&-Simba's-Family-Tree-In-The-Lion-King-Explained

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The story could take place after Mufasa becomes king, with Rafiki being his advisor, and the two of them having adventures in the early days of Mufasa’s reign. It could also be a Mufasa: The Lion King sequel focusing on what Rafiki does as Kiara and Simba and Nala’s son grow older. Rafiki’s wisdom, curiosity, and experience are sure to spark new ideas that can help the Pride Lands further prosper and further honor the circle of life.

Mufasa The Lion King Showing A Young Simba Looking into a Reflection of an Adult Simba

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Mufasa: The Lion King

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Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the live-action remake of the original Disney animated film, The Lion King. The film will follow Mufasa in his early days; further plot details are currently under wraps. The film will likely explore Mufasa and Scar’s relationship and how it became as strained as it did. In the film, Timon and Pumba will return, with Billy Eicher and Seth Rogen reprising their roles.

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Cast

Seth Rogen
, Billy Eichner
, Kelvin Harrison Jr.
, Aaron Pierre
, John Kani

Director

Barry Jenkins

Writers

Jeff Nathanson

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