The question is why does Hollywood remake successful films? The obvious answer is money. The other less obvious one is its easier, because there’s already a working script. The challenge for this movie is it was an animated feature, and it had to be updated to computer animation. The studio has succeeded in making The Lion King into a box office bonanza, twenty five years after its initial theatrical success.
James Earl Jones has reprised his role as Mufasa, the king. He has two things that make his rule difficult; his scheming brother, Scar (Chiwotel Ejiofor) and his son, Simba (JD McCrary). Scar was defeated in a challenge to Mufasa. Even though Mufasa doesn’t trust him, he’s allowed him to live among the tribe. Mufasa’s son, Simba, believes he has what it takes to be a leader, and is very headstrong. Simba has a playmate, Young Nala, ( Shahadi Wright Joseph). Simba gets the idea, one day to journey to the shadowlands, which his father, has said is off limits. He persuades Nala to go as well. He gets there, and is met by hyenas. They get ready to attack, and Simba attempts a roar. They laugh at it, and then another roar is heard. It’s Mufasa, who’s come to his son’s rescue. He fends off the attack, and warns the hyenas. He takes his son and Nala to safety. He dismisses Nala, and lectures Simba about his disobedience.
This episode leads to Scar persuading Simba, that he should try again. Simba ventures into the forbidden territory, and gets caught in a wildebeest stampede. Fortunately, his father has gone after him. He rescues Simba, but has sustained grave injuries. He can’t get to the top of the mountain, and sees Scar. He asks him for help, and Scar pushes him down to his death. Simba sees his father die, and also sees Scar. Scar says Simba should leave and never return, because he caused his father’s death. As he leaves, Scar tells his new allies, the hyenas, to kill him. They fail in their task, but lie to Scar.
Scar goes back to the kingdom, and breaks the news that his brother and nephew are dead. He claims the kingship, by right of succession. He also proclaims the hyenas as his personal guard. In the meantime, Simba has made friends with the meerkat, Timon, (Billy Eichner) and the warthog Pumbaa, (Seth Rogen), who rescued him from vultures. They share their philosophy of “no worries”, which he adapts. He also adapts their eating habits of devouring bugs.
Time passes and Simba, (Donald Glover) is a fully grown lion, who is still enjoying life, with his buddies and eating bugs. Along comes his childhood pal, Nala, (Beyoncé); who pounces on Pumbaa, to eat him. He is saved by Simba. Nala is recognized by Simba, and she tells him that the grasslands have been overhunted. She says that Scar’s rule is destroying everything, and that he must claim the throne. He tells her he’s happy, and she should join him. She refuses, and says she will return, with or without him. He finally is persuaded by Rafiki, the sage, who was present at his birth, to claim his birthright. He joins Nala, and is accompanied by Timon and Pumbaa.
Simba comes back to his home, and confronts Scar, who tries the guilt trip about his father’s death. It doesn’t work, and Simba attacks him. While this is going on, the lionesses and Simba’s friends, drive out the hyenas. Simba wins the fight and Scar says it was the hyenas’ idea and they’re the real enemy. Simba tells Scar to leave and never return. When Simba turns away, Scar attacks him, and knocks him to the edge of a cliff. Scar then admits he killed Mufasa, and its heard by everyone. Simba pounces on him, and he falls; supposedly to his death. He instead lands in the area where the hyenas were chased. They pounce on him and kill and eat him. Simba assumes his rightful place as king and has an heir by Nala.
What makes this film stand out is its Shakespearean undertones. It is somewhere between Macbeth, Hamlet and Julius Caesar. It has the triumph from tragedy appeal. Scar could be Richard III. Mufasa is Julius Caesar and Simba could be Hamlet, without the dying part. This falls into the category of many other Disney films, with menacing characters, and heroic figures. This film is one of the finest Disney stories. Jon Favreau has done well in creating a film as good as the original.