WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Mufasa: The Lion King.
Disney’s next live-actionLion Kingmovie afterMufasa: The Lion Kingshould take inspiration from another live-action franchise that puts its main villain front and center in two profitable installments. FollowingMufasa’s$707.3 million box office performance, the two live-actionLion Kingmovies have combined for more than $2.37 billion worldwide. This cementsThe Lion Kingas the highest-grossing asset ofDisney’s arsenal of live-action classicsand will almost certainly produce another live-actionLion Kinginstallment before the end of the decade.
Until the eventualAladdin 2,Cruella 2, orThe Jungle Book 2come out, the second highest-grossing Disney live-action franchise isMaleficient, which earned more than $1.25 billion worldwide. The original 2014Maleficentremains one of the highest-grossing Disney live-action remakes with a box office total of $760 million. This encouraged the creation of the 2019 sequelMaleficent: Mistress of Evil, which earned $492 million. As part of theSleeping Beautyfranchise,Maleficientis one of the few Disney live-action movies to focus primarily on a classic villain, which could be a great next step forThe Lion Kingseries.
Mufasa Still Leaves Room For A Lion King Movie About Scar To Happen
A Standalone Scar Movie Could Pull In Another Massive Box Office Performance
WhileMufasa: The Lion Kingoffers a variety of backstory and unknown details about Scar, who goes by Taka in the 2024 prequel movie, there is still much to learn about the character. Additionally,there are still parts of his backstory and motivations that could be fleshed out in a standalone moviewhich could really dig into his psyche as the leading star. AScarstandalone movie could add greater sympathy to his character or at least dive further into his motivations for ultimately killing his brother in the originalLion Kingmovie.
As it currently stands, audiences better know where Scar came from after seeing the prequel movie but not so much what happens betweenMufasaandThe Lion King. It’s well-established that Scar is inspired by King Claudius of Hamlet, who is primarily inspired by jealousy, which is quite similar to the Evil Queen in theupcoming Disney live-action adaptation ofSnow White. This level of motivation works for a film aimed at children buta more sophisticated look into Scar’s character can add new layers to his betrayal of Mufasaand his divergence into evil.
Maleficent & Cruella Are The Best Examples Of This
Scar has natural appeal as one of the best-known classic Disney villains, which makes him the perfect candidate for aMaleficientor evenCruellatreatment. One of the greatest villains that Disney ever created wasKillmonger inBlack Panther, which made hima fierce and formidable foe but also provided a clear path of empathy and understandingof how his dark character came to be that way. This type of motivation can be applied further to Scar, which would fascinate children and adults of all ages. A standalone Scar movie could very well be the best iteration ofThe Lion Kingever made.
A standalone Scar movie could very well be the best iteration of The Lion King ever made.
Maleficent, with its massive box office, is the biggest example of a Disney villain taking the leading role and pulling in great numbers.Cruella, starring Academy Award winner Emma Stone, also did well and inspired a sequel, which is currently in development.The Lion Kingcould make a live-action sequel for its next live-action adaptationbut it would be missing out on a chance to make one of the greatest live-action adaptations in its history by overlooking a Scar standalone prequel.The Lion King 2feels inevitable, almost forced, while a Scar movie feels instantly exciting.
A Scar Movie Could Adapt A Lion King Story That Came Out 1 Year Before Mufasa
There’s Already Source Material For A Standalone Scar Prequel
There is alreadysource material for a potential Scar prequel movieto pull inspiration from, aLion Kingprequel comic and a four-part miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment calledDisney Villains: Scarby Chuck Brown and Trevor Fraley. Originally published in 2023, the miniseries takes place after the events ofMufasa: The Lion Kingand explores more details as to why Scar wanted to kill Mufasa and claim the throne of Pride Rock. It also dives into howScar formed an allegiance with the hyenas, which is what eventually helped him rise to poweras seen in the original Lion King.
While other adaptations such asThe Lion GuardandThe Lion King II: Simba’s Prideare certainly on the table, I’m not sure why Disney would willingly sleep on a standalone Scar movie, especially given the recent source material that is now available. What’s more, it would act asthe perfect continuation of the live-action adaptations, wedging in between the original remake and the recent prequel movie.
A Scar standalone movie would technically be the last time Scar would be featured in a live-action movie and would create a true Scar trilogy with two prequels and the original.
Additionally, a Scar standalone movie would technically be the last time Scar would be featured in a live-action movie and would create a true Scar trilogy with two prequels and the original before his death. This way,The Lion Kingcan continue with its sequel rollouts in the futureafter giving Scar, one of its best-ever villains, a proper send-off with his own movie, even if it does so in a nontraditional way.
Mufasa: The Lion King’s Box Office Makes A Scar Movie More Plausible
There’s Little To No Chance That Disney Won’t Make Another Lion King Movie
SinceMufasa: The Lion Kingdid very well at the box office, Disney should want to do more with the franchise. With five years between 2019’sThe Lion Kingand 2024’sMufasa, this puts Disney on track to release at least one more live-actionLion Kinginstallment before the end of the 2020s. If it can only choose one, it should really consider the Scar standalone feature since it’s truly the most opportune time for that to happen. Another prequel is really the only way to incorporate Scar in the franchise moving forward and fans aren’t ready to say goodbye to the character yet.
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.
Fans will likely still welcome a hypothetical Scar standalone sometime in the 2030s, butwrapping up the Scar narrative before heading into a new era of sequels, and even original content, could be the best playfor Disney. With proven track records of villain-focused narratives from preexisting franchises likeMaleficientandCruella, it feels like Disney has to at least take a shot on a Scar movie, which appears set up to succeed. Even if it doesn’t work out as planned, Disney can churn out its anticipated sequel toThe Lion Kingas expected, which is sure to find success.
