Iconic Quote
“Long live the king.”
— Scar, The Lion King
What Makes Them Great
Scar is Disney's darkest villain — a fratricidal uncle who manipulates a child into believing he caused his own father's death. Irons's bored, contemptuous delivery is perfection, and the stampede scene is the most emotionally devastating moment in Disney animation.
The Villain
Jeremy Irons's Scar is Disney's most Shakespearean villain — a Claudius figure who murders his brother Mufasa and manipulates his nephew Simba into exile to seize the throne of Pride Rock. Irons's vocal performance drips with sardonic contempt: Scar is smarter than everyone around him, and he knows it, and the knowledge has curdled into bitterness. 'Be Prepared' is the greatest villain song in animation history — a fascist rally staged as a Broadway number.
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