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As many fans lined up for the re-release of The Lion King in 2,330 theaters, the hype reminded everyone of its rocky start. A few decades ago, this iconic film was viewed as Disney’s “B-list” project. You might be surprised to know that the studio had its doubts about The Lion King from the get-go, questioning whether it would resonate with audiences. Spoiler alert: it did, and how!
In the ’90s, Disney was on a creative roll, riding high on classics like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Yet, with its original 84-minute runtime, The Lion King struggled for a solid identity. It was almost like Disney was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The story was powerful, yes, but the execution felt uneven. Mufasa’s untimely death hit hard, but what followed? It was a musical montage that felt more like filler than essential storytelling. How did this cinematic gem manage to be both beloved and baffling?
Consider the structure: by the time Simba met Timon and Pumbaa, audiences were already halfway through the movie! What about a second act? The film essentially dropped a musical montage—Hakuna Matata—and called it a day. Where was the juicy character development? The moral dilemmas? The second act, it turned out, was little more than a quick tour through life in the jungle. Instead of digging deep into Simba’s emotional landscape, the film rushed toward the climax faster than a gazelle fleeing a lion.
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