{"id":2235916,"date":"2024-05-02T18:43:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T22:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-lion-king-prequel-director-responds-to-fans-calling-disney-a-soulless-machine\/"},"modified":"2024-05-02T18:46:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T22:46:48","slug":"the-lion-king-prequel-director-responds-to-fans-calling-disney-a-soulless-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-lion-king-prequel-director-responds-to-fans-calling-disney-a-soulless-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"Director of &#8216;The Lion King&#8217; Prequel Reacts to Fans Criticizing Disney as a &#8216;Soulless Machine"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-lion-king-prequel-director-responds-to-fans-calling-disney-a-soulless-machine%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2235916&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The\u200c article details\u2063 the response of the &#8216;The\u2063 Lion \u200dKing&#8217;\u2064 Prequel Director, Barry\u2064 Jenkins, to\u200c criticisms from\u2063 fans \u2064who dub Disney as a &#8216;soulless machine&#8217;. Jenkins defends the \u200bemotional impact and communal value of &#8216;The Lion King&#8217;, contrasting it with claims of \u200cartistic \u200ccompromise and corporate\u2063 control within Disney&#8217;s\u2064 productions. \u200cThe article \u2062delves\u2062 into how Barry Jenkins, the director of the &#8216;The\u2064 Lion King&#8217; prequel, responds to \u200cfans&#8217; labeling of Disney as a\u2062 &#8216;soulless machine&#8217;. Jenkins passionately defends\u200c the emotional significance and communal \u2063influence of &#8216;The Lion King&#8217;, highlighting a stark comparison to allegations of artistic\u2063 concessions and corporate \u200ddominance\u200c within Disney&#8217;s projects.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/entertainment\/\">  Entertainment <\/a>  <\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;The Lion King&#8217; Prequel Director Responds to Fans Calling Disney a &#8216;Soulless Machine&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p> <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/%20\"><span>Bryan Chai<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 2, 2024 at 2:38pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>One can use the term \u201csoulless\u201d in a number of ways.<\/p>\n<p>It could be used literally, it could be used figuratively, it could be used to call out something that\u2019s lacking individuality or it could be used to describe a lack of humanity and warmth.<\/p>\n<p>And for many people these days, the term could be used to describe the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/bob-iger-wins-control-disney-admits-infusing-messaging-shouldnt-priority\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walt Disney Company<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>An endless stream of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/shocking-report-reveals-disneys-star-wars-box-office-failed-cover-cost-franchise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">poor stewardship<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chamber-of-commerce-urges-biden-to-heed-gop-concerns-over-covid-relief-package\/\" title=\"Chamber of Commerce urges Biden to heed GOP concerns over COVID relief package\">half-baked ideas<\/a>, ham-fisted and forced \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/x-men-x-women-disney-marvel-x-men-reboot-focus-female-characters-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">representation<\/a>,\u201d and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/disney-exec-blames-massive-box-office-bombs-bigoted-fans-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general aversion to the fans<\/a> who helped prop the company up has hamstrung the once-infallible media empire.<\/p>\n<p>That much is inarguable.<\/p>\n<p>One such half-baked idea that many would describe as \u201csoulless\u201d? Disney\u2019s insistence on mining its catalog of classics for much lamer live-action versions.<\/p>\n<p>From \u201cCinderella,\u201d to \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d to \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/worst-thing-happened-matt-walsh-absolutely-torches-woke-little-mermaid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Little Mermaid<\/a>,\u201d to \u201cAladdin,\u201d to \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d Disney has re-released far inferior versions of the movies those remakes are based on over the years.<\/p>\n<p>Even the most ardent Disney fans struggle to defend this practice.<\/p>\n<p>The director of the upcoming live-action prequel to \u201cThe Lion King\u201d did not seem to struggle as much defending the practice.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do you think Disney will ever find its way again?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Barry Jenkins, who will helm \u201cMufasa: The Lion King,\u201d took to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">social media<\/a> after fans vocally complained about yet <em>another <\/em>live-action take on a Disney classic.<\/p>\n<p>(Worse yet, it\u2019s a story nobody was particularly clamoring for. The prequel movie looks to chronicle the rise of Mufasa, the father of the protagonist in 1994\u2019s original \u201cThe Lion King,\u201d Simba. Mufasa served his narrative and literary purpose 30 years ago.)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">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.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BarryJenkins\/status\/1784960376502911136?\">April 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBarry, You\u2019re too good and talented for this Iger\u2019s soulless machine,\u201d one X user posted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is nothing soulless about The Lion King,\u201d Jenkins fired back. \u201cFor 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jenkins further objected to other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kim-kardashian-petitions-judge-for-divorce-from-kanye-west-cites-emotional-distress-from-social-media-posts\/\" title=\"Kim Kardashian Petitions Judge For Divorce From Kanye West, Cites \u2018Emotional Distress\u2019 From Social Media Posts\">social media criticisms<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bruh what kind of logic is that?<\/p>\n<p>How about this, here are a few videos from the \u201csame Barry Jenkins who premiered Moonlight\u201d (as you put it) showing some of the things I was doing in my spare time AT THE SAME TIME I was writing Moonlight.<\/p>\n<p>Here we go:<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BarryJenkins\/status\/1784990767951569161?\">April 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cCome on man,\u201d another X user posted. \u201cI interviewed you when you premiered Moonlight at TIFF, and that Barry Jenkins wouldn\u2019t have said what you just said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can do a Disney movie for the check, in order to work on your passion projects at a later time, but you don\u2019t have to shill like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a brief exchange, Jenkins ended the conversation when the X user challenged Disney\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">You said \u201cand that Barry Jenkins wouldn\u2019t have said what you just said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s cool. You said it. I responded. It\u2019s done.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going back to work now. Much respect<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BarryJenkins\/status\/1784996838170616053?\">April 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cRead the original comment: that you\u2019re too good and talented for Iger\u2019s soulless machine,\u201d the X user reiterated. \u201cI agree with that comment. Disney represents the capture of creative expression by finance-driven corporate interests, and it exists to fence children\u2019s imaginations behind a paywall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can judge how \u201csoulless\u201d the movie looks so far, as the film has a trailer available:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A lion who would change our lives forever.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Mufasa?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Mufasa<\/a>: The Lion King, in theaters December 20. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3YowFEnzok\">pic.twitter.com\/3YowFEnzok<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DisneyStudios\/status\/1784923497367753190?\">April 29, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMufasa: The Lion King\u201d will come out on December 20, 2024.<\/p>\n<div id=\"author-info-44778\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44778\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44778\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44778\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44778\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. He is an avid fan of sports, video games, politics and debate. <\/p>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Hawaii <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  Class of 2010 University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  Phoenix, Arizona <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English, Korean <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Sports, Entertainment, Science\/Tech <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In entertainment news, the director of &#8216;The Lion King&#8217; prequel addresses fans&#8217; critique of Disney as a &#8216;soulless machine&#8217;. Bryan Chai reports on the diverse interpretations of the term &#8216;soulless&#8217;, highlighting its potential to signify a lack of uniqueness or character within a creative entity<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2015,"featured_media":2235917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Mufasa-Screen-Shot.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2235916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Mufasa-Screen-Shot.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2235916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2235916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2235916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2235917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2235916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2235916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2235916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}