The Subsequent Lion King Film After Mufasa Ought to Copy A $1.2 Billion Disney Stay-Motion Remake Determination

March 7, 2025

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WARNING: SPOILERS forward for Mufasa: The Lion King.

Disney’s subsequent live-action Lion King film after Mufasa: The Lion King ought to take inspiration from one other live-action franchise that places its major villain entrance and middle in two worthwhile installments. Following Mufasa’s $707.3 million field workplace efficiency, the 2 live-action Lion King motion pictures have mixed for greater than $2.37 billion worldwide. This cements The Lion King because the highest-grossing asset of Disney’s arsenal of live-action classics and can virtually definitely produce one other live-action Lion King installment earlier than the tip of the last decade.

Till the eventual Aladdin 2, Cruella 2, or The Jungle Ebook 2 come out, the second highest-grossing Disney live-action franchise is Maleficient, which earned greater than $1.25 billion worldwide. The unique 2014 Maleficent stays one of many highest-grossing Disney live-action remakes with a field workplace complete of $760 million. This inspired the creation of the 2019 sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which earned $492 million. As a part of the Sleeping Magnificence franchise, Maleficient is without doubt one of the few Disney live-action motion pictures to focus totally on a traditional villain, which could possibly be an incredible subsequent step for The Lion King collection.

Mufasa Nonetheless Leaves Room For A Lion King Film About Scar To Occur

A Standalone Scar Film May Pull In One other Huge Field Workplace Efficiency

Taka after he becomes Scar in Mufasa: The Lion King

Whereas Mufasa: The Lion King affords quite a lot of backstory and unknown particulars about Scar, who goes by Taka within the 2024 prequel film, there may be nonetheless a lot to study concerning the character. Moreover, there are nonetheless components of his backstory and motivations that could possibly be fleshed out in a standalone film which might actually dig into his psyche because the main star. A Scar standalone film might add better sympathy to his character or at the very least dive additional into his motivations for finally killing his brother within the authentic Lion King film.

Because it at present stands, audiences higher know the place Scar got here from after seeing the prequel film however not a lot what occurs between Mufasa and The Lion King. It is well-established that Scar is impressed by King Claudius of Hamlet, who’s primarily impressed by jealousy, which is sort of much like the Evil Queen within the upcoming Disney live-action adaptation of Snow White. This stage of motivation works for a movie geared toward youngsters however a extra refined look into Scar’s character can add new layers to his betrayal of Mufasa and his divergence into evil.

Disney Has Already Had Nice Success With Stay-Motion Remakes Primarily based On Villains

Maleficent & Cruella Are The Finest Examples Of This

Mufasa and Taka together in Mufasa the Lion King

Scar has pure enchantment as one of many best-known traditional Disney villains, which makes him the proper candidate for a Maleficient and even Cruella remedy. One of many biggest villains that Disney ever created was Killmonger in Black Panther, which made him a fierce and formidable foe but in addition offered a transparent path of empathy and understanding of how his darkish character got here to be that manner. The sort of motivation could be utilized additional to Scar, which might fascinate youngsters and adults of all ages. A standalone Scar film might very properly be the most effective iteration of The Lion King ever made.

A standalone Scar film might very properly be the most effective iteration of The Lion King ever made.

Maleficent, with its huge field workplace, is the most important instance of a Disney villain taking the main position and pulling in nice numbers. Cruella, starring Academy Award winner Emma Stone, additionally did properly and impressed a sequel, which is at present in improvement. The Lion King might make a live-action sequel for its subsequent live-action adaptation however it will be lacking out on an opportunity to make one of many biggest live-action diversifications in its historical past by overlooking a Scar standalone prequel. The Lion King 2 feels inevitable, virtually compelled, whereas a Scar film feels immediately thrilling.

A Scar Film May Adapt A Lion King Story That Got here Out 1 12 months Earlier than Mufasa

There’s Already Supply Materials For A Standalone Scar Prequel

Mufasa, Rafiki, Sarabi, and Taka face away from the camera as they look at a gorgeous mountain landscape in Mufasa The Lion King

There’s already supply materials for a possible Scar prequel film to tug inspiration from, a Lion King prequel comedian and a four-part miniseries from Dynamite Leisure known as Disney Villains: Scar by Chuck Brown and Trevor Fraley. Initially printed in 2023, the miniseries takes place after the occasions of Mufasa: The Lion King and explores extra particulars as to why Scar needed to kill Mufasa and declare the throne of Pleasure Rock. It additionally dives into how Scar shaped an allegiance with the hyenas, which is what finally helped him rise to energy as seen within the authentic Lion King.

Whereas different diversifications equivalent to The Lion Guard and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pleasure are definitely on the desk, I am undecided why Disney would willingly sleep on a standalone Scar film, particularly given the latest supply materials that’s now out there. What’s extra, it will act as the proper continuation of the live-action diversifications, wedging in between the unique remake and the latest prequel film.

A Scar standalone film would technically be the final time Scar could be featured in a live-action film and would create a real Scar trilogy with two prequels and the unique.

Moreover, a Scar standalone film would technically be the final time Scar could be featured in a live-action film and would create a real Scar trilogy with two prequels and the unique earlier than his loss of life. This manner, The Lion King can proceed with its sequel rollouts sooner or later after giving Scar, one in every of its best-ever villains, a correct send-off along with his personal film, even when it does so in a nontraditional manner.

Mufasa: The Lion King’s Field Workplace Makes A Scar Film Extra Believable

There’s Little To No Probability That Disney Will not Make One other Lion King Film

Since Mufasa: The Lion King did very properly on the field workplace, Disney ought to wish to do extra with the franchise. With 5 years between 2019’s The Lion King and 2024’s Mufasa, this places Disney on monitor to launch at the very least yet another live-action Lion King installment earlier than the tip of the 2020s. If it will possibly solely select one, it ought to actually contemplate the Scar standalone function because it’s really essentially the most opportune time for that to occur. One other prequel is de facto the one technique to incorporate Scar within the franchise shifting ahead and followers aren’t able to say goodbye to the character but.

Associated

The Stunning Manner That Mufasa: The Lion King Made Africa Really feel Extra Life like

Mufasa’s setting is without doubt one of the greatest features of the movie as a result of filmmakers have been capable of finding a inventive technique to make it really feel extra sensible.

Followers will possible nonetheless welcome a hypothetical Scar standalone someday within the 2030s, however wrapping up the Scar narrative earlier than heading into a brand new period of sequels, and even authentic content material, could possibly be the most effective play for Disney. With confirmed monitor data of villain-focused narratives from preexisting franchises like Maleficient and Cruella, it seems like Disney has to at the very least take a shot on a Scar film, which seems set as much as succeed. Even when it does not work out as deliberate, Disney can churn out its anticipated sequel to The Lion King as anticipated, which is certain to seek out success.