it's considered by many as the greatest animated film to come out of the Disney
Renaissance era it also just so happens to have an upcoming live-action
adaptation coming to theaters no not just fast-forward to the part yeah
that's the good stuff but all the Lion King talk lately has got us thinking
about the original animated movie specifically some of the theories that
fans have come up with but not just any theories today we're
going to take a look at some of the darker ones darker ones that might
actually change the way you look at the film I'm Kyle with wicked binge and
these are five dark theories about Disney's The Lion King now let's get
started
theory number one Simba only didn't eat Pumbaa because he didn't know that he
could okay let's kick this off with a simple one based on what we see
throughout the movie warthogs seem to be pretty rare in the pride lands we just
don't really see many since Simba is young and only just starting off
learning how to hunt it makes sense that he may not have seen a warthog himself
yet or his father never clarified whether or not warthogs are edible
animals why would he need clarification because it's established it's determined
that Mufasa has to teach his son what animals are acceptable to eat which I
guess is pretty dark in and of itself considering Mufasa gets to make the
determination of which of his subjects are okay to have for dinner but the
point is which ones are edible is something that he has to actually teach
to Simba we actually watch him do this specifically regarding the Antelope dad
don't we eat the animal yes similar but let me explain Simba knows that he's a
carnivore when he meets Timon and Pumbaa but never even connects that this would
make them feel uncomfortable as he openly talks about eating other living
mammals a whole zebra haha refresh out a zebra
any animal in his mind they aren't even food because his dad never told him that
they were so had things happen differently in really any other way
symbol would have just eaten Timon and Pumba because well it's the circle of
life theory number two Zazu is a traitor this is a juicy theory
that comes from reddit user combustible compost he suggests that the character
is a co the hornbill and trustworthy adviser of King Mufasa is actually a
traitor who's working for Skaar it's quite the accusation so let's go ahead
and break down the evidence that's weighed against him as far as motivation
goes it doesn't take a whole lot to realize that Zazu is treated really
poorly by both Mufasa and his son Simba not to mention the rest of the kingdom
during the I can't wait to be king song Zazu is stepped on trampled and sat on
essentially being disrespected by every animal in the kingdom all this despite
the fact that Zazu has a high status that should probably be respected and
yes the rest of the kingdom does know about his high status because it's
referenced by other characters in the film from Zuzu's perspective Mufasa
routinely treats him poorly and is currently raising his spoiled entitled
son to do the exact same thing Mufasa even uses Zazu as a prop during Simba's
pouncing lesson pouncing oh no sigh you can't be Zazu
even states his problem with Simba a couple times as well stating
simba even alludes to getting rid of Zazu as an advisor once he becomes the
King not so long as I'm around well in that case you're fine so according to
this theory Josue's betrayal kind of makes sense whether it's out of
self-interest or because he thinks it's better not to have a spoiled brat in
charge of the pride lands now the first time that Zazu and Skaar interact it's
when Simba is still a newborn at this point
Zazu is still loyal to Mufasa and acting in his best interest but once Simba
grows up a bit Zazu becomes annoyed and remembers that
star is a more suitable heir to the throne
when Simba and Nala are lured to the hyenas Simba references having zazzy
fired one day and his behavior only reinforces what Zazu feels needs to be
done that Simba needs to be dealt with which he's already assisted scarve
putting into motion obviously the plan fails but Zazu being a traitor stays a
secret and although they toy with him throwing them in a big cold room Zazu
could have been let go by the hyenas because they know that he's on cigars
side but a very important detail is this that Zazu only wanted Simba dealt with
out of fear that he would be a terrible ruler I'm afraid you're shaping up to be
a pretty hectic KND murdering Mufasa was never part of his plan scar kept this
secret from him the real evidence for this comes when scar warns Mufasa that
Simba is caught in a stampede Zazu realizes the true intent of skaars
plan to kill not only Simba but Mufasa as well he panics and goes for help but
scar knocks him out now here's the point if Zazu were innocent of treachery why
would he not inform anyone later that scar knocked him out why would he not
find the fact that scar knocked him out suspicious why would he not say anything
later on the reason why he doesn't tell anyone that scar stopped him from
getting help was because he knows that he's complicit scar has dirt on him
which is eventually why he gets put in a cage but there's more to this theory
check this out it's pretty common knowledge that The
Lion King is based on Hamlet believe me I read the play and by reddit
I mean I schemed my friends notes before a test in college for 12 minutes but I
did pass c-minus The Lion King and Hamlet both have the
Prince death of their fathers murderous uncles father peers exiled revenge etc
Simba is Hamlet scar is Claudius Mufasa is king Hamlet Nala is Ophelia but what
character from the hamlet play does Zazu mirror well Polonius the King's chief
counselor and Hamlet Polonius conspires with Claudius that's scar to spy on
Hamlet since he's concerned about the monarchy
if Zazu is meant to mirror Polonius like all the other characters mirror their
respective Hamlet characters then I think we might have a guilty bird the
prosecution rests what do you think is a zoo guilty let us
know in the comments section below theory number three scar practiced
cannibalism during the scene in which scar lounges and forces Zazu to sing
songs going back to what we just mentioned in the last Theory this is
again a reference to Hamlet you could read the play yourself or if you're
cultured like me just watch the Billy Madison clip anyway many have pointed
out that this skull might actually be a lion skull which suggests that scar ate
a lion now this isn't too far-fetched considering the fact that a big plot
point is that there's a famine brought on by scars poor leadership but still
cannibalism that's pretty dark for a Disney movie of course this could very
well be a skull to a different species or even if it is a lion it doesn't
necessarily mean that scar actually hate it maybe it's Mufasa skull that scar
kept is a trophy okay that's actually even darker theory number 4 Simba and
Nala are related all right I hate to go here but it has to be done it's a video
on dark theories after all reddit user Sarah von trapp suggests that Simba and
Nala are either half siblings or cousins because Nala's father either must be
Mufasa or scarf why is this well in the wild lions arrange themselves in the
prides made up of a coalition of two male lions and numerous female lions and
it looks like that's the case in the Lion King because aside from Simba
that's exactly what's represented in the pride obviously Mufasa and scar have
formed the coalition and the pride consists of them Simba and all the
females which is why you never see any other
Alliance which means that any Cubs here are the offspring of either scar or
Mufasa making Simba and Nala either half siblings or cousins but again it's a
cartoon I get it we can't assume everything in the film is realistic to
nature for example lions don't talk there's no weird you have no idea but
you know hypothetically if we did base all our theories off nature scar also
likely would have impregnated the lionesses while he was the ruler and
after the credits rolled Simba likely murdered any of scars offspring because
that's what happens when a lion takes over a pride in real life but I get it
it's a cartoon theory number 5 Mufasa was the bad guy controversial I know but
this theory has been floating around for a while
Mufasa may seem like the rightful king I mean his name literally translates the
king in Swahili but really looked at Mufasa as Kingdom the cats at the top of
the monarchy get to eat all those beneath them now I'm no vegetarian I
love a good steak but there's something a bit cruel about convincing everyone in
your kingdom that you get to eat them and not only just eat them but eat them
and have them love you for it it sounds like the whole circle of life thing is
just a catchy little propaganda tune used to convince animals that by
allowing themselves to be your dinner they're serving some higher power
because you know dead bodies are just like tomorrow's grass man you can eat
that too we are all connected in the greatest circle of life let's not forget
that the hyenas have been segregated from the pride lands and Skaar is the
only one fighting for their equality what if the lion king is just a story
retroactive Lee told by the victors what if painting Skaar out to be a monster is
just some form of propaganda story I mean the hyenas are even showcased as
goose-stepping fascists let's be real talk about some dirty political tricks
there Simba how many times have you seen that happen for all we know the problems
with the pride lands the famine the drought had nothing to do with scars
decisions I mean what if it was just weather how was a lion going to control
that all we know is Simba idolized his dad and the pride lands is a clear
monarchy so after he killed scar the story was to be told his way because
he's the king now and bonus theory mon is a cult leader when Simba first
stumbles upon Timon and Pumbaa Timon who's clearly the smarter of the two
tells him that symbol will grow up to be big and ferocious and if they have a
lion on their side things will be way easier for them what if he's on our side
you know having a lion around might not be such a bad idea when he realizes that
Simba is hurt and vulnerable he introduces him to his philosophy Hakuna
Matata and for all we know before Simba Timon pulled the same trick with Pumbaa
after all Timon is smart charismatic and despite his small size a leader in his
own unique way his goal seems to be recruiting bigger
animals by targeting them when they're young and impressionable by promising
them an awesome carefree lifestyle sneaky little guy so those are our
favorite dark theories about the Lion King do you think any of them are true
or do you think they're just kind of fun to think about and do you have any dark
theories about the movie that we missed let us know in the comments section
below make sure to LIKE this video subscribe and hit that notification bell
but most importantly stay wicked