by Mike » December 6th, 2010, 1:35 am
This wasn't a joking setting. If you read the passage it's clear that it's a serious interview, and that the producers were hesitant about admitting that they intended for either Scar or Mufasa to be the father. However, they couldn't squeak away without giving the answer, so that's what they did, even though it was difficult and awkward for them to admit that Simba's relationship with Nala was in fact incestuous. I don't think the "they were joking" theory holds much water at all.