How Disney is Banking on Nostalgia to Bounce Back: Previous Film in Franchise Raked in $1.6 Billion at the Box Office

Culture news Disney is counting on nostalgia to get out of the crisis: the previous film in this saga earned $1.6 billion at the box office

The professional label

Announced several months ago, Mufasa returns to the forefront. Disney has just released the first trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King, the live action prequel released in 2019. Directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and written by Jeff Nathanson, Mufasa will tell the origins of the famous lion, focusing particularly on his turbulent childhood alongside his brother, Scar, the “wicked” of the saga. “Having the opportunity to work with Disney to develop this magnificent story of friendship, love and legacy while continuing my work on the lives and souls of members of the African diaspora is a dream come true” has declared Barry Jenkins.

Subscribe to Disney+

Disney tells us that on the voice cast side, we will find Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as well as many members of the cast of the 2019 film with John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba) and Beyoncé (Nala). The popstar's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, will play Kiara, the daughter of Simba and Nala. Other names announced include Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose and Keith David (voice of the Arbiter from Halo).

Lin-Manuel Miranda will be the author of the songs for the film. “The Lion King has an incredible musical legacy, featuring music from some of the greatest songwriters, and I'm proud and humbled to be a part of it“, he declared in a press release that we find at Variety. It is true that with prestigious names ranging from Hans Zimmer to Elton John, there is reason to be intimidated.

The lion with the golden eggs

The entertainment giant is banking on the strengths of its favorite lions to get back on track, the group having experienced some setbacks recently. As a reminder, the original 1994 film grossed $960 million at the worldwide box office, and the 2019 remake earned Disney $1.6 billion. It is therefore not surprising to see the company rely on one of its most secure licenses to win once again. All that remains is to wait a few months to discover this production in the cinema, the film being scheduled for December 18, 2024 in France.