There is a diverse world of Disney movies with various amounts of characters, however, not all characters have a personality or a story. This includes the villains. Villains are what make the plot of movies we know and love today. Though there are movies such as Maleficent and Cruella, movies portraying villains are scarce. Today, there are not only the original movies but live-action remakes as well. The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, Mulan, Cinderella, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast are just a few well-loved live-action Disney movies. The villains, however, unlike the main characters who have been written, are an open book. Some characters would be hard to find a story for, but others could have a fantastic turnout. But what are some that may make great movies?
In Cinderella, the stepmother, Lady Tremaine, is hostile. What if there was a reason for this hostility? There are vast possibilities like seeing herself or someone else in Cinderella, trying to prepare her for the world around her, or even being related to Cinderella’s mother in one way or another. Lady Tremaine is often interpreted differently in movies, being young or old, or trying to relate to Cinderella in some cases, so to change her wouldn’t be a huge surprise, but doing it to deepen her character may be for the better. If I were casting younger Lady Tremaine I would cast Shailene Woodley. She could portray a sweet kind character who changes into the villain we know today. The movie could show Lady Tremaine meeting Cinderella’s father. It could also show her just trying to do what’s best for her daughter and the three of them losing their home because the man that she had loved prior passed away.
Another movie is Aladdin. Jafar is the villain, and he just wants to rule and be all-powerful. Though, there’s not much about his character in the movie, they do make him out to be a common thief. Jafar could be similar to Aladdin but has had a terrible past that changed his views. Then, he met the sultan and his life changed, but for better or for worse? Taylor Zakhar Perez could play Jafar but could be much more cunning than Aladdin. Even being a complete jokester, bringing people to like him, until their money disappears. The matter may be brought up to the Sultan who could try and change him, but instead, Jafar plans to take the throne, and the movie could end with him sitting on the throne saying that someday it will be his, and in his lap sits a paper with no other than the genie’s lamp that the camera very subtly looks at before turning away.
Even the renowned Evil Queen from Snow White could be a great remake. The Evil Queen is desperate but meets a demise. A possible movie idea is simply putting out a younger Evil Queen and then going all the way to her demise. She could simply be from Salem in her past, and being how she can change her image had changed to fit a better appearance, still afraid that someone may catch her in her haste she meets a mirror that opens her mind to what she can accomplish. Also, a route the movie producers could take is adding a scene after the Evil Queen’s death, maybe the hunter finds her, and maybe a vision of her younger self meeting the mirror flashes in her eyes. The camera could follow her as she falls, capturing the hunter’s face the second he realizes what has happened. Charlize Theron, who has played the villain before, could be said Evil Queen. She could act differently after meeting the mirror, slowly changing with each interaction. She could even hope to meet him for the advice he has to offer and the hunter could even warn her against using the mirror.
Why not add The Little Mermaid to the list? Ursula is angry about being banished and her entire plot has to do with revenge. However, the movie doesn’t outright say what she was banished for. One can assume it was because of her dark magic and greed, but perhaps she could be incorporated as innocent and the sultan wanted her banished for magic and ultimately something else. Kate Winslet could play the role of Ursula. Ursula could even strike a deal to have her revenge. However, a catch put in play may stop her and change her. She is, after all, the only one that’s half human with tentacles in the movie The Little Mermaid.
The next movie has to do with the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. She is corrupt and in the live-action Alice Through the Looking Glass, it’s explained briefly that after hitting her head she developed a grudge against her sister. However, there could be more added to her story. It could be told from the Queen’s perspective, perhaps even her traveling to Alice’s world, learning of rulers, and aspiring to be one. Jenifer Lawrence would be my choice for the Queen of Hearts. She could see the rule of power in Alice’s world and unsurprisingly want to bring it back, only with her on the throne. However, when she’s on the throne, she could hear the prophecy of Alice the girl who will defeat her, driving her along an even crazier path than before, maybe even creating the death penalty for all that oppose her. Or all of it could be her imagination, everything that happened, and even pointing to her imagining meeting Alice in the first place, in a dream she’ll never wake up from. Maybe she is originally from Alice’s world, and that is where she makes up her own world of wonders.
Even animal-wise, Mufasa is destined to be king, so naturally in The Lion King, Scar could have his own story like the others. He could be pushed from his heritage, and it could show him meeting a young hyena, putting the hyenas in a more positive lighting. Then, when things turn for the worse, he is pushed back to wanting the throne, so he can rule how he sees fit. Johnny Depp has a voice that would compliment Scar’s character. Also, Johnny Depp’s characters often change from beginning to end, so this movie would be no exception. As Scar’s young hyena friend is pushed away, Johnny Depp could go for a more strained character, who is fighting his impulses to take the throne because that wasn’t who he was, but slowly his past haunts him, pushing him to do what he sees right.
Although Tangled hasn’t been made into a live-action film, another villain that could have a backstory is Mother Gothel. She’s desperate to be young, but the movie doesn’t say why, or even how she knows of the flower. She even knows how to use it. They could give her an age and a reason for wanting to be young. In this movie, Sandra Bullock could play Mother Gothel. She could show a more sarcastic character, who perceives herself as the best. However, that comes from a magic flower which slowly makes her more egotistical, and reliant on its magical ability.
Furthermore, numerous villains could be turned into movies, and yet they’re avoided. They are, for the most part, clean slates compared to remakes that follow a very tight path. They are, in all movies, corrupt. However, no one ventures into ‘why.’ Some stories may be difficult to turn into a story, but others would have a great story in all likelihood. Such as with movies that follow a similar pattern to the originals, but aren’t quite the same, and have led up to the movie we know today. That’s why there should be additional movies with villains, because their stories are untold and could use some reopening. Besides, there’s already quite a few remakes, why not change the goal entirely?
