The Lion King is easily one of Disney’s most popular movies. The beloved animated film not only features an emotional story but also incredible songs and breathtaking imagery. It is no wonder, then, that it has managed to attract millions of fans all around the world since its release in 1994. In fact, the movie is so successful that it even sparked a 2019 live-action remake.
Just like any other memorable Disney film, The Lion King has been a topic of discussion on the internet. Avid fans have poured over every little detail in the story of Simba, finding new details and developing compelling fan theories. Many of these The Lion King fan theories are not only interesting reads, but also make a lot of sense in the world of Disney. Though that’s not the case for some of the more outlandish ones featured below.
15 Could Be True: Scar Was Too Evil To Realize Simba Was Giving Him A Genuine Chance To Leave
Near the end of The Lion King, Simba offers Scar the chance to leave safely with his life on the condition that he never returns. Some fans believe that Scar attacked Simba and turned down this offer because he didn’t believe Simba was telling the truth. His own evil nature made him distrustful and therefore he didn’t consider the offer as genuine.
14 Totally Ridiculous: The Elephant Graveyard Is Evidence Of A Mass Murder
The elephant graveyard is a scary location in The Lion King. It is never explained, though, how all those elephant skeletons got there. A popular fan theory states that this was the result of a mass murder that the lions under Mufasa committed in order to get rid of any potential threat to their rule that the elephants might have posed.
13 Could Be True: Scar Killed Thousands Of Animals To Feed His Hyena Army
In order to take over Pride Rock and keep control over the other lions, Scar had to recruit an army of hyenas. One fan theory states that in order to do this, Scar had to kill practically every animal in the surrounding area, wiping out the ecosystem to feed his forces.
12 Totally Ridiculous: Simba Caused The Drought By Leaving
This is quite a metaphysical theory that states that the rain that helps keep Pride Rock and the surroundings fresh and healthy are tied to the rightful heirs. When Simba leaves following the death of his father, the rains also leave and causes the drought viewers see in the film. The much-needed water only returns when Simba goes back to Pride Rock.
11 Could Be True: Nala Was Not In Love With Simba And Just Manipulated Him So He Would Return To Pride Rock
One of the main reasons that Simba returns to Pride Rock is because he falls in love with Nala after she stumbled upon him. However, some fans believe that Nala was not really in love with Simba. Instead, she simply pretended to show an interest in him so he would return and free her & the other lions from Scar.
10 Totally Ridiculous: Timon Is Like A Cult Leader Forcing Others To Serve Him
Although Timon and Pumbaa are only meant to be light relief in the film, some fans think something more sinister might be going on. They point to the fact that Timon keeps allying himself with powerful figures who he essentially indoctrinates into protecting him. This fan theory states that Timon is a cult leader manipulating others into serving him.
9 Could Be True: Nala Knew Simba Was Alive And Was Looking For Him
Another fan theory that deals with Nala and Simba proposes that the lioness was not simply out looking for new hunting grounds. It instead argues that she knew Simba was alive and was purposely out looking for him, determined to bring him back and fight against Scar.
8 Totally Ridiculous: The Film Is A Metaphor For Colonialism Is Africa
Some have noticed that The Lion King contains a lot of colonial imagery and concepts, leading to a theory that it could be a metaphor for colonialism in Africa. One theory suggests Mufasa represents a foreign power taking control of land before an uprising from the inside led by Scar takes over. This rebellion is later quashed and replaced with a blending of the two previous regimes.
7 Could Be True: Totally Ridiculous: Scar Resorted To Cannibalism Due To The Lack of Food
In this theory, a fan argues that the food situation got so bad that Scar even resorted to cannibalism. In the scene where Zazu is locked in a bone cage, you see Scar hold up what is clearly a lion skull, suggesting that he may have killed and eaten one of his own species due to starvation.
6 Totally Ridiculous: Mufasa Was The Real Villain
While The Lion King portrays Mufasa as a heroic leader, not everyone agrees with that. A small number of fans have said that the king essentially operates a dictatorship, forcing the other animals into an arrangement where they can be eaten at any time despite being sentient creatures.
5 Could Be True: The Lions Exile The Hyenas Because They Are Competitors
In the early parts of The Lion King, it is shown that the hyenas don’t live with the lions. They are instead forced to live far away from Pride Rock. Some fans have argued that this is because the lions exiled them, fearing the competition they would provide in hunting prey if they were allowed to stay in the pride lands.
4 Totally Ridiculous: Zazu Was Secretly Working With Scar
One of the more shocking fan theories about The Lion King is the one that argues Zazu may have been working with Scar all along. Sick of being mistreated by his master Mufasa and worried about the future of the monarchy, the bird may have aided Scar. It goes on to suggest that Zazu may have distracted Mufasa so Scar could take Simba to the place where Mufasa dies.
3 Could Be True: Scar Is Not Mufasa's Biological Brother
Although Scar is referred to as Mufasa’s brother and Simba’s uncle, some fan theories suggest that he is not actually related to the pair. The striking differences in their appearances and the fact he despises his apparent family are evidence that Scar is actually not a biological relative.
2 Totally Ridiculous: The Lion King Takes Place In A Post-Apocalyptic Future
There have been several fan theories about Disney movies taking place in post-apocalyptic futures. The Lion King also has a fan theory along these lines. It states that human civilization has collapsed and animals have grown in intelligence to form societies and even talk using languages.
1 Could Be True: Nala Is Scar's Daughter
Nala is one of the most important characters in The Lion King. She is Simba’s love interest and the two eventually get together. This raises some questions as there are only two male lions shown in the film. If Mufasa was Nala’s father that would be an issue for Simba as they would be half-siblings. For this reason, a few fans have stated that Nala must be Scar’s daughter. The similar eye color between Nala and Scar is also a good indicator.