Mufasa: The Lion King intricately reintroduces the concept of white lions, signaling a potential shift in the storyline for a future remake of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. Despite the 2025 film taking the franchise in a fresh direction, Mufasa subtly reinforces the continued relevance of the 1990s animated classics for Disney. Notably, while Mufasa and Scar present a narrative that is entirely distinct, Simba’s daughter, Kiara, featured prominently in the original 1998 sequel. Additionally, the character Kiros appears to have ties to Kiara’s narrative arc as well.
Kiros, depicted as a white lion in Mufasa: The Lion King, leads a pride that mirrors his unique appearance. The story reveals that these white lions hail from various prides across the African continent, having been cast out by their respective families due to their distinctive traits. This backdrop fuels Kiros’s vendetta against the lion kings, specifically targeting Taka and Mufasa. While Kiros meets his end in the film, his “Outsider”pride persists, exiled from the newly unified Pride Lands.
Interconnections: The Outsiders of The Lion King 2 and Mufasa’s White Lions
Mufasa’s Narrative Shift: Retconning the 1998 Villains?
The revelation that Kiros leads a pride known as the Outsiders in Mufasa: The Lion King is particularly fascinating, as this term was also used for the antagonists in 1998’s The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. While the origins of these factions differ significantly, both groups share thematic ties. In the original animated film, the Outsiders were once loyal followers of Scar during his reign of terror. After Simba reclaimed the throne, he exiled the Outsiders to the desolate edges of the Pride Lands, leaving them in perpetual despair as they plotted their revenge.
Despite the clear differences, there are notable parallels between Kiros’s white lion Outsiders and those from Simba’s Pride. Both groups experienced banishment, facing rejection and discrimination based on their appearances or loyalties. Thus, it stands to reason that the white lion Outsiders would harbor a similar resentment towards Mufasa and his lineage. This sets the stage for a possible narrative link between the two factions in upcoming projects.
Potential Inclusion of White Lions as Villains in The Lion King 2
Expanding the Story: Opportunities for Growth
Mufasa: The Lion King has laid the groundwork for a potential CGI remake of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, effectively keeping the narrative possibilities wide open. While it’s plausible that the remake could revisit the original Outsiders loyal to Scar, the presence of two distinct villain groups bearing the same title might confuse audiences. Instead, it seems more likely that Disney may choose to integrate Kiros’s white lions within the existing narrative framework of Simba’s Pride.
This creative pivot would not only resolve naming redundancies but also lend greater depth to the story. The original premise that lions pledged allegiance to Scar was tenuous, as it lacked adequate narrative support in the original film. Adapting the storyline to feature Kiara developing a connection with an Outsider related to Kiros’s lineage would enhance the emotional stakes and coherence of the narrative. Consequently, anticipation mounts as we await confirmation of this intriguing direction.