In Disney’s upcoming film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” viewers can expect a unique take on Scar’s character. The film will explore a different backstory for the vengeful lion, offering a fresh perspective on his motivations and actions.
In Disney’s “The Lion King,” Scar (Jeremy Irons) murders his brother Mufasa (James Earl Jones), seizes the throne, and blames Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). Later, an adult Simba (Matthew Broderick) confronts his uncle, reclaiming the throne and embracing his destiny as Lion King.
In the 1994 publication “The Lion King: A Tale of Two Brothers,” Scar is revealed as Taka, the younger son of Ahadi and Uru. Envious of Mufasa’s favor, Scar plots with the hyenas Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to undermine Mufasa’s rule and claim the throne for himself.
Taka’s treachery backfired when his plan to eliminate his brother, Mufasa, by provoking a fight with Boma the buffalo failed. Mufasa heroically rescued Ahadi from the rampaging buffalo herd, leaving Taka scarred and humiliated. Ahadi chastised Taka for his anger, earning him the ominous nickname Scar. Scar vowed, “I won’t forget what happened today.”
*The Lion Guard* animated series presents a distinct origin story for Scar. Born with the name Askari, he earned the nickname “Scar” from Mufasa after a cobra’s venom scarred his eye. In this version, Scar, the second-born son of the Lion King, holds the responsibility of protecting the Pride Lands as leader of the Lion Guard. The Lion Guard possesses the ancient power of the Roar of the Elders, which was taken from Scar after his failed coup attempt against Mufasa.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” explores both prequel and sequel elements to the 2019 photorealistic “Lion King” remake. Like other Disney “live-action” adaptations, it introduces a unique perspective on the animated classic.
According to plot details, Scar/Taka, voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr., is portrayed as “heir to a royal bloodline” and “a lion prince with a bright future.” He exhibits sympathy towards the orphaned cub Mufasa, voiced by Aaron Pierre, and welcomes him into his family as a brother.
In this backstory, Taka and Mufasa are not biological brothers. Taka is the son of Obasi and Eshe, while Mufasa is the son of Masego and Afia.
In early iterations of *The Lion King*, Scar was conceived as an unrelated rogue lion. However, inspired by Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*, filmmakers later depicted him as Mufasa’s treacherous brother.
Hahn explained that the likelihood of Scar and Mufasa sharing the same parents was slim. In the wild, when the dominant male lion ages, it is common for a younger male to challenge and kill him. This prompts the female lions to enter heat, allowing the new lion to mate and kill any existing cubs to establish his own dominance as the pack leader.
Hahn explained that lion prides sometimes have two male lions, but they’re not equals because they don’t share parents. One lion is usually subordinate to the other. To reflect this animal truth in their story, the filmmakers decided that Scar and Mufasa couldn’t be from the same gene pool.
Royal advisor Rafiki recounts Mufasa’s origin story to his descendant Kiara, emphasizing his humble beginnings and the profound impact he made on their destiny. The film “Mufasa: The Lion King” explores Mufasa’s transformative journey from an ordinary lion to a revered ruler, releasing in theaters December 20.