When Will 'The Lion King' Sequel Hit Disney+?

Based on previous Disney releases, Mufasa will likely be streaming on Disney+ in March or April, but the time frame may be shortened by the film’s box office performance

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After Sonic The Hedgehog 3 raced to first place in its opening weekend, Mufasa: The Lion King roared back after a somewhat sleepy start. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Mufasa is a prequel to 2019’s The Lion King, itself a remake of the 1994 animated classic.

The film stars Aaron Pierre as Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, with Blue Ivy Carter making her voice acting debut as Kiara. The score was composed by Dave Metzger, while Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote original songs for the soundtrack.

Since the film debuted on Dec 20, fans looking to catch Mufasa at home can expect to wait a while before it lands on VOD or Disney+.

When Will Mufasa Be Streaming?

Disney has unsurprisingly not yet announced a VOD or streaming date for Mufasa, but based on the timeline of previous Disney releases, fans can expect Mufasa to land on Disney+ in mid to late March or early April. Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 hit theaters on June 14 before being made available on VOD on Aug 8 and Disney+ on Sep 25. That marks 55 days before the VOD release and a 103-day window before the Disney+ streaming date.

The catch is that streaming dates are contingent on a film’s box office performance, among other factors. Joker 2 landed on Max after 70 days following lackluster critical and commercial reception. Mufasa’s mixed reviews and lower-than-expected box office numbers make a slightly earlier Disney+ release possible, at least compared to Inside Out 2, which smashed records.

How To Watch Every Lion King Movie in Order

The Lion King was a critical and commercial smash when it was released in 1994, and it spawned two direct sequels, The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and The Lion King 1 1/2. Both were released direct-to-video. The 2019 remake, also titled The Lion King, easily broke the $1B mark at the box office. Every entry in the franchise is streaming on Disney+.

The Lion King (1994)

The original film starred Jeremy Irons as Scar, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Matthew Broderick as Simba, and Moira Kelly as Nala. The score was composed by Hans Zimmer, while Elton John and Tim Rice composed the soundtrack.

The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride

The sequel to Lion King was released in 1998 as a direct-to-video release. Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, and other cast members reprise their voice roles. Neve Campbell stars as Kiara.

The Lion King 1 1/2

The Lion King 1 1/2 serves as a prequel to The Lion King, told from the point of view of Timon and Pumbaa. Like Lion King, which took inspiration from Hamlet, The Lion King 1 1/2 was inspired by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which retraces the events of Hamlet from the point of view of two supporting characters.

The Lion King (2019)

The 2019 film, marketed as a live-action remake, used photorealistic CGI animation. The film was directed by Jon Favreau and starred Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, and Billy Eichner.

Hamlet

Looking to go way back to the beginning? The Lion King isn’t a direct retelling of Hamlet, but the film borrows generously from the Shakespeare classic.

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