Warning! Spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King ahead!
Mufasa: The Lion Kingdived into Mufasa and Scar’s past, but an essential part of their story was saved for another potential prequel movie. 2024’s newThe Lion Kingstory has changed just about everything audiences thought they knew about these tragic brothers. As it turns out, Mufasa and Scar’s connection isn’t biological at all, and their heartbreaking origins make Scar’s eventual betrayal all the more devistating. Still,Mufasa: The Lion Kingdidn’t answer an important question posed by 2019’sThe Lion King, leaving a significant story to be told down the line.
It has always been evident inThe Lion Kingthat an intriguing story is hidden away in Mufasa and Scar’s past. The bigquestionMufasa: The Lion Kinghad to answer is what happened between these brothers that would lead one to murder the other. The 2024 movie effectively addressed this, revealing how Scar, originally called Taka, had rescued and taken Mufasa in as brother and felt ultimately betrayed by the lion when he fell in love with Sarabi. Still,a surprise ofMufasa: The Lion Kingis thatTaka received his namesake “scar” saving Mufasa’s life—not while challenging his brother as 2019’sThe Lion Kingimplied.
Scar Confirmed He Challenged Mufasa To Be King In The Past In 2019’s The Lion King
Scar Said He Wouldn’t Dare Challenge Mufasa Again
WhileThe Lion Kingnever provided the details of Mufasa and Scar’s past outright, there were several hints within the story regarding what went wrong between them. It’s implied that Scar had always wanted to be king but consistently fell short compared to his larger and stronger brother. Near the beginning of 2019’sThe Lion King, after Scar didn’t appear at the ceremony celebrating Simba’s birth, Mufasa angrily asked Scar whether he was challenging him.Scar responded with the line, “I would never dream of challenging you… again.“This clearly indicates that these brothers have fought in the past.
At one point or another inMufasa and Scar’s past, the villainous lion must have challenged his brother’s position as king. However, as a weaker lion, Scar lost the fight—and it must have been a pretty terrible defeat if Scar determined that it wasn’t worth ever challenging Mufasa again. It has long been assumed that this fight is when Scar would have gotten his scar. There is a certain amount of poetry to this, which would be in keeping with the tragic story betweenThe Lion King’s royal brothers. However,Mufasa: The Lion Kingdisproved this theory while leaving out this battle entirely.
Mufasa: The Lion King Does Not Feature Scar Challenging Mufasa
It Must Happen In The Years After Mufasa Became King
Since Scar said this intriguing line in 2019’sThe Lion King, it was assumed thatMufasa: The Lion Kingwould feature such a battle between brothers. It was all part of the prequel movie’s draw since Mufasa and Taka began their story together as close as they could possibly be. It seemed that the moment would finally come after Taka saw Mufasa with Sarabi, or perhaps when the White Lions officially made their attack. Of course,Mufasa: The Lion Kingdiverted expectations whenTaka instead defended his brotherand received a gash across his eye from the villain Kiros.
After Taka fought by Mufasa’s side and thePride Lands were established, the new lion king pardoned his brother and announced that “Scar” would always have a home there. However, his betrayal wasn’t forgotten. Scar seemed to accept this, thanking Mufasa and demonstrating remorse for his efforts to get his brother killed. However,The Lion Kingaudiences know that this doesn’t last. Scar will eventually challenge Mufasa’s role as king andlose the fight so badly that he later turns to treachery and fratricide to elevate his status. Unfortunately,Mufasa: The Lion Kingleaves the next stage in Scar’s story out.
Scar Challenging Mufasa Could Support Another The Lion King Prequel Movie
Something Further Will Break Between These Brothers
WhileMufasa: The Lion Kingprovides answers regarding the start of Mufasa and Scar’s story, andThe Lion Kingdetails the end, there is a great deal left unsaid about the middle. Once again, the existing stories heavily imply what happens in the gaps. Scar seems to accept his lot in life at the end of the 2024 prequel movie. It’s clear from the final battle between Mufasa and Kiros that, despite his anger, Taka can’t yet stand to see his brother killed atMufasa: The Lion King’s end. His love for Mufasa inspired Taka to be brave for the first time in his life, but we know this love will deteriorate.
His love for Mufasa inspired Taka to be brave for the first time in his life, but we know this love will deteriorate.
While audiences can fill in the gaps themselves and imagine Scar’s withering love for Mufasa over the years, there is certainly some room to again expand the story here.TheLion Kingfranchise could dive into another prequel movie that explores the dynamic between Mufasa and Scar as the years roll. At a certain point, Scar’s resentment will grow, and he will eventually determine that he can no longer sit in Mufasa’s shadow. The “challenge” referenced in 2019’sThe Lion Kingcould finally be seen on screen, and it could be clear, once and for all, why Scar turned to murder in the end.
Did Mufasa Change The Original Intent Of Scar’s Line In The Lion King?
The Lion King Implied This Was How Scar Got His Scar
It seemed to be a given thatMufasa: The Lion Kingwould feature Scar’s challenge against Mufasa and that this would be the moment the villainous lion would get the iconic wound across his eye. However, the 2024 prequel seemed specifically aimed at diverting audiences' expectations. Disney was successful in this regard—Mufasa: The LionKingwas full of surprises, butthis depended heavily on the overt implications ofThe Lion Kingbeing retconned. It’s clear in 1994’sThe Lion Kingthat Mufasa and Scar are biological brothers, but the 2019 movie left the door open for the prequel movie’s changes.
In the original 1994 movie, Scar makes a comment about being at the “shallow end of the gene pool” in comparison to Mufasa’s “brute strength.” The 2019 movie altered this line, however, making a non-biological connection possible.
WhileMufasa: The Lion Kingdidn’t specifically contradict anything said in2019’sThe Lion King, it certainly seemed thatScar’s line about challenging Mufasa was meant to imply the origin of his scar. However,Mufasa: The Lion Kingeffectively took a more interesting route. After all, who would have guessed that Scar received this wound while saving the life of the lion he famously murdered inThe Lion King? This is an example of intent being retroactively changed for the better. Now, not only is Mufasa and Scar’s story more intriguing but there is room for it to be expanded even further into another movie.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
