My preferred option is one in which Simba is unable to control his disturbing patricidal tendencies (as seen in his famous "Ohh I just can't wait for my Dad to be dead." song) and does indeed kill Musafa to become King. His rule is all you would expect from an entitled sociopath who's only qualification is his parentage and a magic roar, Scar point out all the problems (say lack of food and the rest of the Pride having to hunt for ages so Simba and his gang can laze about) and gets exiled for his troubles, all the Lion Guard let it happen because they want promotion and because Scar "is so tough on them", expecting them to live up to their duties and not just laze about like Simba lets them. Throughout it all Scar is still sarcastic and has the great lines, it's just he is in the right and, together with the Hyenas (who aren't as stupid in this) and a few other 'outcasts' deposes Simba and saves the day.
Wow.
Even ITTL, Disney would never make this in
a million years. In fact, no, they'd never make it in
14 billion years (the age of the universe).
The ideas I had are all based on stuff from actual earlier drafts for the film OTL, BTW.
That's what I think the rule should be for pre-existing films in this timeline - rather than just making stuff up out of whole cloth, take actual plot points/characters from earlier versions of the story and incorporate them into the film. Basically ITTL, this character never got removed from the story or this aspect of the story was never changed. It creates a realism to it.
Here, however, is a big change to the plotline (based on an actual theory my sister had about the film) - Simba's return to the throne is a plot by Zazu and Rafiki, who know Simba's still alive. Basically. Timon and Pumbaa are basically keeping him safe and hidden (or as safe and hidden as two characters voiced by Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson
can keep someone) until he's matured - once he's reached adulthood, he can take the throne from Scar and restore the dynasty.
However, a significantly more ruthless Simba is a pretty good idea - maybe have Simba kill Scar himself rather than chuck him off Pride Rock and have the hyenas finish him off. That would be shocking for a Disney film - the hero actually killing the Big Bad, who is also his uncle, on screen. This also fits my personal ethos - as Simba killing Scar personally (prior to their familial relationship being added) was also the case in earlier treatments.
It would be a great allegory for the dangers of dynastic politics and nepotism, as well as one of those 'don't judge a book by a cover' messages about just because someone looks all perfect (Simba) that doesn't mean they aren't nasty and vice-versa with Scar and the Hyenas. You could even play up how the Pride have arrogantly scorned and abused Shenzi and the Hyenas, but ultimately depend on them for salvation.
I think, what with
Mort,
Beauty and the Beast (maybe) and the hypothetical Medusa film, there's a lot of "don't judge a book by its cover" Disney films ITTL. You can only use the same message so many times. I also think dynastic politics and the potential dangers of such is a bit too deep a subject for a family film - or at least, not in that manner.
However, a slightly more sympathetic portrayal of the hyenas is something I would say hell fucking yes to. Shenzi's alliance with Scar isn't motivated out of power, it's out of desperation and a desire for a better life for her clan. However, after Mufasa's overthrown, she realises that Scar has pretty much usurped her leadership over her clan - they aren't equal partners at all.
When the Pridelands go to hell, the hyenas are sick of starving under Scar's incompetent rule and Shenzi's pissed off at basically having lost all authority over her clan, but Scar's influence is the only thing keeping the lionesses from killing the hyenas and both they and Scar are very aware of that. Scar's also aware he needs the hyenas' support to maintain his authority.
Basically, the only thing that's keeping their alliance together is that they both need each other. Without Scar, the lionesses will kill Shenzi (and some of her clan), but, without Shenzi and the hyenas, Scar loses his main support base (reluctant as it is), as the lionesses and Mufasa's allies don't like him at all - and Zazu and Rafiki (as mentioned) are plotting behind Scar's back to restore Simba to Pride Rock.
It would also lead to a great shot in the ending - Simba's killed Scar and is savouring the lull/having to deal with the guilt of killing his uncle (power-craving fratricidal bastard though he was) when Shenzi strides out of the gloom and, rather insincerely, congratulates him on his victory. Proclaiming Simba as her king and denouncing the late Scar, she bows to him, as does her entire clan.... not out of any altruistic reason or because she's seen the error of her ways, but just to save her own skin.
And, true to my personal ethos re: pre-existing films, the hyenas bowing to Simba after he defeated Scar was also the case in an earlier draft - where Shenzi was a male hyena called Banagi. That would be boundary-crossing for a Disney film - one of the villains getting off scot-free not because they've made a Heel Face Turn, but basically because they've wrangled a pardon to save their own skin.