Why was Be Prepared cut instead of Hukana Matata?

[FriendlyHyena]

I know both songs are beloved, but Scar is clearly evil so Be Prepared fits. However, Hukana Matata actually tells people to live in an apathetic lifestyle where you ignore problems. That's actually one of the biggest problems in the world: apathy. And, indeed, the Hukana Matata lifestyle nearly made Simba shirk his duty of going back to challenge Scar and it was only the arrival of ghost Mufasa that caused him to go back.

The sad thing is, it may have helped Simba in the short term after the shock of exile and the death of Mufasa, but, long term, the lifestyle harmed him.


Thus, I think they should remove Hukana Mattata and put back in Be Prepared.

[Elton John]

Because that apathy was necessary for the plot at that point?

[TLK_Kid]

The Lion King is not The Lion King without Hakuna Matata. Simple as that.

[Panpardus]

The Lion King is not The Lion King without Hakuna Matata. Simple as that.

Basically this, even though it's actually my least favorite song from the film.

Additionally, I think they figured that "Be Prepared" wouldn't be workable insofar as replicating what goes on onscreen during that musical number in a more realistic setting. A goose-stepping army of photorealistic hyenas and magical volcanic activity and tectonic movement is probably gonna be a bit hard to buy.

[TLK_Kid]

If they're animating "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" in a realistic setting, they can do anything.

[Elton John]

I still don’t believe that Be Prepared is cut.

An out of context interview with the real Elton John isn’t enough to convince me.

He never directly stated that the song was cut, he just forgot to mention it.

[SwagaliciousXXX]

They had to cut "Be Prepared" because Nickelodeon was giving them weird looks.

In all seriousness, I think "Be Prepared" in the original film was important because

• It sets an ominous tone for the rest of the first act.
• It shows that Scar has meticulously planned Mufasa's death and was not a spur of the moment thing.
• It shows what a arrogant, manipulative jerk Scar is by exploiting and berating the hyenas

Assuming that "Be Prepared" IS being removed and for creative reasons and not some other reason, then it may be because they either want to rewrite Scar's character (presumably a more sympathetic antagonist, instead of power hungry villain) or Mufasa's death. (More of an accident, or a convenient opportunity rather than premeditated murder) Of course they may not but I don't see why they wouldn't keep it if that's the case. I've seen people bring up "Nazi metaphor" but if Disney wanted to keep the song, they could just make completely different visuals instead as the song itself is not inherently "Nazi metaphor"

[WildSimba]

They had to cut "Be Prepared" because Nickelodeon was giving them weird looks.

The Avatar, Master of all 4 Elements.png

In all seriousness, I think "Be Prepared" in the original film was important because

• It sets an ominous tone for the rest of the first act.
• It shows that Scar has meticulously planned Mufasa's death and was not a spur of the moment thing.
• It shows what a arrogant, manipulative ass Scar is by exploiting and berating the hyenas

Assuming that "Be Prepared" IS being removed and for creative reasons and not some other reason, then it may be because they either want to rewrite Scar's character (presumably a more sympathetic antagonist, instead of power hungry villain) or Mufasa's death. (More of an accident, or a convenient opportunity rather than premeditated murder) Of course they may not but I don't see why they wouldn't keep it if that's the case. I've seen people bring up "Nazi metaphor" but if Disney wanted to keep the song, they could just make completely different visuals instead as the song itself is not inherently "Nazi metaphor"

If it's being cut for that, then they might as well just not even remake the film at all, because the whole film plays as a metaphor for the nazi's and the rise and fall of a dictator. lol

[Elton John]

I like how people assume that the song is cut because of an out of context quote from an interview.

Oh wait I really hate it.

Seriously....

They might cut the song, they might not. Literally no one working on the movie has directly stated that the song is cut.

Just a quote from an EJ interview where he forgot to mention it.

[WildSimba]

I lile how people assume that the song is cut because of an out of context quote from an interview.

Oh wait I really hate it.

Seriously....

They might cut the song, they might not. Literally no one working on the movie has directly stated that the song is cut.

Just a quote from an EJ interview where he forgot to mention it.

Yeah I agree that it's stupid to assume that. It's far too early still to say what is going to be in the film or not. lol Complain when the movie comes out if it doesn't have it, ya know? lol