The Lion King 2 is coming - but it probably won’t bear much resemblance 1998’s direct-to-video The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. While the ‘90s follow-up was better than most of Disney’s slew of non-theatrical sequels of the day, it certainly wasn’t on the same level as the original film. For that, and a few other reasons, it likely won’t be much of a consideration for The Lion King 2.

Simba’s Pride is a very simple movie; it moves The Lion King’s Shakespearean inspiration from Hamlet to Romeo & Juliet, with a kid-friendly story of forbidden love between Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara, and the heir to Scar’s exiled tribe, Kovu. It’s cute, with a soundtrack that’s sadly forgettable, and a happy ending that reunites the Pride Lands. But sadly, that won’t be enough to carry The Lion King 2.

The most obvious reason the new movie won’t pull from Simba’s Pride is simply because the original sequel doesn’t have much to offer. A story of young love between previously unestablished characters won’t be able to cut it if Disney is looking to repeat the 2019 Lion King’s $1.6 billion box office take. There’s not enough spectacle, action, or emotional intrigue between the start and finish of Simba’s Pride. After all, it was written for VHS tapes. Furthermore, the 2019 movie's critical reception might force the sequel to take a more original route. The Lion King wasn't a proper remake, yet it also didn't do enough to differentiate itself. On top of that, what it did change didn't work for many people. So The Lion King 2 is a chance for Disney to get it right.


All of this isn't to say The Lion King failed as a film. It was incredibly successful and managed to push the boundaries of what CGI is capable of, especially with regards to recreating animated worlds in a live-action way. Plus, the movie still pulled from the same timeless story that worked so well in the original. The problem isn’t that 2019’s The Lion King is a bad movie, but rather that many see it as a bad (and unnecessary) remake.

So why would Disney try once again to pull from an already-made film, especially one that has such a significantly lower fan base? With the original film’s story already told, The Lion King 2 has the potential to go in all-new directions and tell a new, modern story with an already stellar voice cast. That’s a more interesting proposition than sticking to the rigid structure of an animated film for a second time. It also gives the fans something to new to look forward to.

Whether or not The Lion King 2 can succeed where its successor failed remains to be seen, but there’s a lot of promise in letting a skilled filmmaker like Barry Jenkins tell an all-new story. The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride still holds its own legacy as a one of the better Disney sequels of its era – and a fun time capsule – but that’s all it really has the potential to be. If fans want to see that story again, they’ll have to dust off their VCRs.