Notice! This post contains SPOILERS for Mufasa: The Lion KingA new detail revealed in Mufasa: The Lion King makes the death of Simba's father that much more tragic 30 years later. Revealing the origins of Mufasa and his brother Taka, the new prequel offers an intriguing look back at how Mufasa became king of the Pride Lands and why his brother came to hate him, so much so that the future Scar orchestrated his brother's death. (and tried to kill his heir). However, a new revelation sheds light on why Mufasa never imagined this would happen.
Mufasa: The Lion King is directed by Barry Jenkins, starring Aaron Pierre as young Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, who would later be known as Scar. Starting with their lives as cubs, it is revealed that Taka was supposed to become the king of his own pride before meeting Mufasa, a cub like him who was recently separated from his own family after a flood. However, the new prequel reveals a major reason why Mufasa never saw betrayal coming, making Scar's murder of his brother even more tragic 30 years after the release of the original Lion King.
Mufasa prequel shows Scar saved him in a similar case to Lion King's Gorge
Taka saved Mufasa's life more than once
After the flood that separated Mufasa from his parents, the young lion cub was saved from a pair of crocodiles by young Taka. With Taka pulling Mufasa to safety with his claws, this darkly reflects and foreshadows their future and final encounter as Taka/Scar sinks his claws into Mufasa before letting him go to be trampled by the wildebeest stampede into the gorge.. That said, Mufasa was driven by Taka's pride in his past, despite Taka's father's objections and his belief that one day Mufasa would betray his son, the future king of his pride.
Years later, a group of white lions from outside and their king named Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen) kill Taka and Mufasa's pride before hunting down the two escaped brothers. Traveling to the legendary land known as Milele, also known as the Pride Lands, Mufasa and Taka meet Rafiki, Sarabi, Zazu. Amid the conflict with the foreigners, Sarabi chooses Mufasa over Taka, which Taka considers a betrayal. This leads Taka to betray his brother and lead the white lions straight to Mufasa to kill him, believing he was injured first.
That being said, Taka eventually regrets his actions enough to side with Mufasa, saving his brother once again after Mufasa defeats Kiros (and Taka receives his iconic scar). This again reflects how Taka saved Mufasa when they were puppies and his future betrayal in The Lion King. However, Taka's resentments return after the animals of the Pride Lands choose Mufasa to be their king. It also doesn't help that Mufasa had no choice but to punish his brother for his attempted betrayal, refusing to banish his brother as other animals proposed, but still giving him the name “Scar”, a lasting memory. of his dishonor.
Scar's previous actions mean that Mufasa fully believed he would be saved in The Lion King
He thought his brother would save him again
Tragically, IIt seems that Mufasa couldn't have known that Scar would betray him in The Lion King. Considering the duo's history, the two brothers saved each other's lives several times in Mufasa. Likewise, Scar sinking his claws into his brother was exactly how he managed to pull Mufasa to safety twice before in the past. Mufasa knew that Scar had saved him before, so he would have thought that his brother would have done the same again above the gorge in The Lion King.
“The element of surprise was on Scar's side when he decided to reveal his true colors and assassinate Mufasa to finally claim the throne…”
Likewise, Scar played his role well at the end of Mufasa: The Lion King. His head bowed as he submitted to the new king, Scar seemed to be all like a remorseful brother who regretted his weakness and failed attempt to get rid of his brother.. It also helped that he chose to fight Mufasa before saving him. As such, the element of surprise was on Scar's side since he chose to reveal his true face and assassinate Mufasa to finally claim the throne.
Mufasa's death is more tragic for him and scar now
A complete betrayal (and Scar's revenge)
Given Mufasa's new context, one of the darkest animated moments in Disney history is now even more tragic. Mufasa and Taka were in the same position more than once, including the moment they met and became brothers. Unfortunately, Mufasa trusted his brother much more than he should have, even though Scar had been playing the role of respectful brother for some time. In truth, Scar's plans to kill his brother were a form of justice from his twisted perspective, believing that Mufasa had turned on him first, “taking” the lioness he wanted and the government he believed was rightfully his.
Mufasa: The Lion King is now showing in theaters.