I Liked Mufasa, But I’m Way More Excited For The Movie Barry Jenkins Will Do Next

While I did like aspects of Mufasa: The Lion King, I am way more excited for Barry Jenkins’ upcoming movie. To me, Jenkins’ directorial vision is one of the key reasons why the film really works visually, allowing Mufasa‘s story to make changes for the better that do not take away from the inherent nostalgia of the original. Jenkins’ ability to add so much complexity to an established property is why I am so excited to see more of his work, especially after seeing how easily he balances a variety of narratives.

Before Mufasa, Jenkins’ focus rested on dramas such as Moonlight and The Fire Inside, earning one Best Director Oscar as he explored more character-driven narratives, each one focusing on some aspect of identity. Jenkins’ new movie The Natural Order, then, is set to capture those same nuances and combine them with his big-budget film experience from Mufasa. If that is not enough to be excited over, Jenkins is set to highlight one rising star whose recent performances promise to only elevate this storyline further: Glen Powell.

Barry Jenkins Is Directing A Sci-Fi Thriller Starring Glen Powell

The Natural Order Is An Adaptation Of Matt Aldrich’s Unpublished Novel

After the success of Mufasa, Barry Jenkins is set to enter the sci-fi genre with Glen Powell, adding to both of their impressive careers so far. According to Deadline, Jenkins and Powell have signed on with Universal to adapt The Natural Order, Matt Aldrich’s novel that tells the story of a pursuit for eternal life. This project was one the three had developed for a while before taking it to market, allowing Jenkins the chance to break into the sci-fi genre and for Aldrich to sell the rights to the film before the novel’s publication date.

The Surprising Way That Mufasa: The Lion King Made Africa Feel More Realistic

Mufasa’s setting is one of the best aspects of the film because filmmakers were able to find a creative way to make it feel more realistic.

Powell’s list of films will include another sci-fi entry in the form of the upcoming Stephen King adaptation The Running Man, but his talents have already been widely showcased. His roles in Twisters, Anyone But You, and Hit Man all resulted in box office hits and, in Hit Man‘s case, weeks on Netflix’s top movie lists. Twisters, in fact, had the highest-grossing opening weekend for a natural disaster film ever. That success, combined with Jenkins’ success with Mufasa, which crossed $700 million at the box office, makes their movie collaboration all the more thrilling for audiences.

Barry Jenkins’ Next Movie Is Even More Exciting After Mufasa

Jenkins Gets To Show More Of His Own Style

During a sunset, Eshe watching Mufasa and Taka in Mufasa: The Lion King — Image via Disney

The anticipation behind this upcoming movie by Barry Jenkins has only heightened after his success with Mufasa, as audiences will get the chance to see more of his own directorial style. Even with Mufasa‘s stunning photorealistic animation and storyline, the film is still a remake, which carries the strict points a prequel needs to hit and limits elements of that narrative, possibly factoring into Mufasa‘s mixed reviews. As a result, any part of a director’s individual style can get stifled in favor of keeping the franchise’s tone consistent.

Though it is an adaptation, Jenkins will have more freedom to explore the themes he has showcased so well before as well as new ones, since sci-fi lends itself to so many fascinating thematic avenues.

By contrast, Jenkins’ new film will allow him to showcase more of the type of storytelling he is known for while also branching into a new genre of film for him. Though it is an adaptation, Jenkins will have more freedom to explore the themes he has showcased so well before as well as new ones, since sci-fi lends itself to so many fascinating thematic avenues. That will allow Jenkins to grow further after Mufasa: The Lion King, demonstrating more of his directorial skills and strong story creation.