Disney is releasing a prequel to its 2019 live-action movie, The Lion King, and now that a teaser trailer has been released, audiences are getting more clarity about what Mufasa: The Lion King is really about, and in particular, which characters it is truly rooting for. Mufasa: The Lion King is a live-action film following the origin story of the King of the Pride Lands, Mufasa. Although Mufasa was notably and tragically killed in the original The Lion King, this new film will explore his youth, alongside his brother Scar. The 2019 Lion King cast will return.
While Disney’s 1994 The Lion King was very clearly an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there is no telling where Mufasa: The Lion King will go. Based on the teaser trailer, it seems that this prequel movie will not be an adaptation of anything, Shakespeare or otherwise, and in fact, it will be a completely original story. Audiences will finally get a peek at Mufasa’s childhood, and how he became the king. However, Mufasa: The Lion King may not be as straightforward as that. It seems that along with Mufasa’s backstory update, viewers will learn more about another character as well.
According to the teaser for Mufasa: The Lion King, audiences will not only learn more about Mufasa’s origin story, but they will also see more of his brother Scar as well, whose name in this prequel film is Taka. Though the two start out as brothers with a good relationship, Mufasa: The Lion King will see the downfall of their bond. And, believe it or not, Scar may actually be justified in his hatred for Mufasa.
This revelation seriously turns the tables on everything audiences thought they knew about The Lion King. In the original film, both in 1994 and 2019, Scar was undeniably the villain of the story, manipulating Mufasa and Simba in order to steal the throne. However, Mufasa: The Lion King reveals that Mufasa may have done something similar to Scar long before he became a villain. In this way, Scar will have a much different story in the prequel movie, to the point where he may even be a likable character and in the right.
Scar’s new name in Mufasa: The Lion King is an even bigger sign of his newfound role. In the prequel, Scar is known as Taka, and in Swahili, Taka translates to “garbage.” This hints that, since birth, Scar has been unloved by those who raised him. Therefore, it makes sense that he would eventually become evil. If anything, Scar’s new name brands him as an underdog. Though everyone hates him, Scar wants to prove that he can do the job he was born to do. Unfortunately, Mufasa: The Lion King will see these hopes battered by Mufasa himself.