The trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King debuted yesterday, sparking all kinds of conversation about the CGI big cats, prequels, and much more. But one criticism director Barry Jenkins won’t stand for: that it’s part of a “soulless” Disney machine.
Jenkins himself was the subject of a bit of criticism following the release of the trailer yesterday, with some fans accusing the filmmaker – who wrote and directed the Oscar Best Picture-winner Moonlight, as well as acclaimed drama If Beale Street Could Talk – of selling out. Jenkins responded to one person on X/Twitter in particular, who told him that he’s “too good and talented for this [Disney CEO Bob] Iger’s soulless machine.”
“There is nothing soulless about The Lion King,” Jenkins replied. “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.”
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
Jenkins continued to respond to fans after that as well, with one person, Q. Anthony Ali, saying he interviewed the director back when Moonlight screened at the Toronto International Film Festival back in 2016, and “that Barry Jenkins wouldn’t have said what you just said.”
“You can do a Disney movie for the check, in order to work on your passion projects at a later time, but you don’t have to shill like this,” Ali added. He then linked to a 2016 interview in which Jenkins talked about painting a fuller picture of Black masculinity in his coming-of-age tale.
Jenkins didn’t stand for that either, saying, “Bruh what kind of logic is that?” He then listed a number a projects he was working on at the same time he was writing Moonlight, all of them linked by one common thread: children “figured prominently” in each one.
“You can say whatever you want about the film but telling ME that something I SAID about why something is meaningful to me for children is CAP? Nah bruh,” Jenkins wrote.
Children have figured prominently in every single one of the projects from Moonlight til’ now without exception. Like… BRUH.
You can say whatever you want about the film but telling ME that something I SAID about why something is meaningful to me for children is CAP? Nah bruh
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) April 29, 2024
Ali responded by clarifying that his issue wasn’t in regards to Jenkins doing a film for children, but that “the issue is Disney’s enclosure of creative license, and its horrendous treatment of CGI artists.” (The conditions that Ali is referring to have led to a potentially groundbreaking unionization push among the VFX artists within Disney.)
Jenkins, however, decided not to continue to go back-and-forth after that: “You said ‘and that Barry Jenkins wouldn’t have said what you just said.’ But it’s cool. You said it. I responded. It’s done. I’m going back to work now. Much respect.”
You said “and that Barry Jenkins wouldn’t have said what you just said.”
But it’s cool. You said it. I responded. It’s done.
I’m going back to work now. Much respect
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) April 29, 2024
The conversation surrounding Mufasa, though, is part of a larger one that’s been had among the film community about big studios leaning on prestige directors to take the creative helm of their franchises. Some fans drew parallels between Jenkins and the likes of Eternals director Chloé Zhao, who was previously best known for acclaimed drama Nomadland, and Oscar-nominated Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.
Others, however, argued that Jenkins shouldn’t have to defend himself, especially when it can be hard to draw audiences to projects that aren’t part of well-known franchises.
Barely anybody had the time to watch Barry Jenkins’ UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, but everyone’s got a spare minute to yell at him about doing a paycheck gig. Great culture we got going here.
— Jacob Knight (@JacobQKnight) April 29, 2024
Think whatever you want about how the movie looks, but the way that people try to act authoritative over a filmmaker as exceptional as Barry Jenkins because he’s making a Disney film is peak baby shit. He doesn’t have to answer to any of you. https://t.co/GbnVlp4fN8
— Ezra Cubero (@EzraCubero) April 30, 2024
Mufasa: The Lion King will serve as an origin story for the eponymous animal and tell the tale of how he rose to greatness despite humble beginnings. Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will voice younger versions of Mufasa and Scar respectively, with several cast members from 2019’s hit The Lion King returning. Those include Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Donald Glover as Simba, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, and Billy Eichner as Timon, while Knowles-Carter’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, will play Kiara.
Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters on December 20.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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