The following contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King, now playing in theatersMufasa: The Lion Kingreveals that one of Mufasa’s iconic lines was actually taken from a major villain.Mufasa: The Lion Kingdelves into the early days of the titular lion, long before he became the ruler of the Pride Lands. This gives the film plenty of opportunities to retroactively seed the characters and events ofThe Lion King, such as the evolution of thekindly Taka into the villainous Scaror how Mufasa fell in love with his eventual queen, Sarabi.
One of the more interesting additions to the film is Kiros, the dangerous white lion who served as a major threat to the animals before Mufasa was able to unite them. Kiros has a very personal reason to go after Mufasa even beyond their conflicting views on power, building to their massive duel inMufasa: The Lion King’s ending. Kiros is effectively everything Mufasa isn’t, a heartless and brutal despot in contrast to Mufasa’s more noble approach to rule. Notably, Mufasa took one idea of Kiros' and flipped it into one of his iconic approaches to ruling.
Kiros Uses The Lion King’s “Everything The Light Touches” Line In Mufasa
Kiros Openly Wanted To Rule “Everything The Light Touches”
Mufasa: The Lion Kingreveals that the villainousKiros believed his kingdom would entail “everything the light touches” long before Mufasa told Simba the same thingabout the Pride Lands.Mufasa: The Lion Kingexplores the early days of Mufasa. The threat that united the animal kingdom behind him was Kiros, a ruthless white lion who held a deep-seated hatred for Mufasa after the latter killed his son in a fight. However, even before that, Kiros was on a path of violence, targeting the other lion prides in the area to cement his stranglehold on the kingdom.
Mufasa Didn’t Explain A Key Part Of Scar’s Backstory Before The Lion King
Mufasa explains many details of Scar’s backstory before The Lion King, but one key aspect is surprisingly left out of Taka’s story in the prequel.
Kiros even tells other lions that he will control everything the light touches, highlighting his ambitions and his willingness to slaughter scores of innocent prides to achieve it. It stands in stark contrast to Mufasa’s motivations by the climax of the film, which reveals that Mufasa was actually reluctant to take the role of king. This willingness to forego power is why Mufasa is the perfect candidate for the role, leading to his well-respected tenure as monarch. However, this makes his decision to adopt the phrase when he’s king more interesting, asMufasa naturally subverts Kiros' motivations.
Why Mufasa Would Steal Kiros' Description Of The Pride Lands
Mufasa Flips Kiros' Plans For A More Noble Purpose
In 2019’sThe Lion King, Mufasa talks to a young Simba about how he’ll eventually take over the Pride Lands as king from Mufasa, and that “everything the light touches” will be his kingdom afterMufasa’s death.However, he’s quick to correct Simba when he asks if that means the entire kingdom will belong to him. Instead, Mufasa explains the lands “belong to no one.” It is the responsibility of the king to take care of the lands and everyone the light touches. This is a direct reversal of Kiros' motivations, with Mufasa taking the philosophy as a noble purpose.
It’s an interesting way to flip one ofThe Lion King’s iconic lines into a crucial new aspect ofMufasa: The Lion King’s thematic connections to the earlier film.
It’s an interesting expansion of Mufasa’s motivations inThe Lion King, highlighting how he took his responsibility as monarch seriously. By contrast, Kiros and Scar were driven by the power the position afforded them. Simba in turn follows his father’s mentality and is seen in the opening song ofMufasa: The Lion Kingto have restored the Pride Lands as a home for the greater animal kingdom without ego or ambition. It’s an interesting way to flip one ofThe Lion King’s iconic lines into a crucial new aspect ofMufasa: The Lion King’s thematic connections to the earlier film.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
