History WhatCouldHaveBeen / TheLionKing

** Nala's father was once a character but was scrapped. An earlier idea involved having Mufasa being her father like in real lion prides, however this made her relationship with Simba BrotherSisterIncest.

* A line for Mufasa's spirit that's recorded by James Earl Jones as seen in the [[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyohyz/Making of Featurette]] being: "You have let your family break apart, and in doing so, you have broken the Circle of Life!", It's most likely cut out of the sequel because it would've been even worse as he scolds to Simba for what he had done after he banished Kovu from the Pride Lands and also, it was too similar to the first movie from 1994.

* A line for Mufasa's spirit that's recorded by James Earl Jones as seen in the [[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyohyz/Making of Featurette]] being: "[[Disappointed in You You have let your family break apart, and in doing so, you have broken the Circle of Life!]]" It's most likely cut out of the sequel because it would've been even worse as he scolds to Simba for what he had done after he banished Kovu from the Pride Lands and also, it was too similar to the first movie from 1994.

[[caption-width-right:350:Concept art from ''King of the Jungle,'' which is a draft where Scar kills Mufasa by [[FamilyUnfriendlyViolence shaping his neck]].]]

[[caption-width-right:350:This is concept art from the grittier version of The Lion King, This from a draft where Scar kills Mufasa by [[FamilyUnfriendlyViolence shaping his neck]].]]

* The story was originally known as ''King of the Jungle'' and the plot was far DarkerAndEdgier. It had a [[http://lionking.wikia.com/wiki/King_of_the_Jungle few variations]]. In early scripts the Pridelanders were called the Ndona pride. Scar was a rogue in at least one draft, but it was decided to make him Mufasa's brother as it made the film emotionally investing. One script was to be themed around a war between two prides of lions, [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride which would be the plot of the sequal a few years later]]. Scar was the leader of the "Mbala" pride, with Mufasa leading the "Ndona" pride. There was also a group of hyenas, led by Banagi (who later became Shenzi), who would have served as secondary antagonists. Kwashi was a baboon similar to Rafiki, though not as wacky. Noticeably it was much more violent and [[BrotherSisterIncest incest filled]] than the final product (a similar concept to this, albeit LighterAndSofter, was in the first DirectToVideo movie).

* The story was originally known as ''King of the Jungle'' and the plot was far DarkerAndEdgier. It had a [[http://lionking.wikia.com/wiki/King_of_the_Jungle few variations]]. In early scripts the Pridelanders were called the Ndona pride. Scar was a rogue in at least one draft, but it was decided to make him Mufasa's brother as it made the film emotionally investing. One script was to be themed around a war between two prides of lions. Scar was the leader of the "Mbala" pride, with Mufasa leading the "Ndona" pride. There was also a group of hyenas, led by Banagi (who later became Shenzi), who would have served as secondary antagonists. Kwashi was a baboon similar to Rafiki, though not as wacky. Noticeably it was much more violent and [[BrotherSisterIncest incest filled]] than the final product (a similar concept to this, albeit LighterAndSofter, was in the first DirectToVideo movie).

!!''{{WesternAnimation/The Lion King1994}}''

!!''{{WesternAnimation/The Lion King|1994}}''

* Tim Rice originally wanted Creator/RikMayall and Creator/AdrianEdmondson to voice either Timon and Pumbaa or the hyenas, as he was big fan of ''Series/{{Bottom}}''. They were both considered to voice Zazu.

* A good portion of the movie between Simba meeting Timon and Pumbaa and him leaving for the Pridelands was scrapped for being seen as useless filler. Simba was meant to go on adventures, meet monkey characters, and do other stuff but the writers deemed that it got in the way of the ComingOfAgeStory. ''VideoGame/TheLionKing'' video game features levels [[OrphanedReference inspired by]] these unused concepts. A gorilla that appears in one of the levels was a deleted character.

* In one concept for the beginning of 'Be Prepared', we could have seen Scar initially meeting the leader of the Hyenas alone, which would have shown him charming her. It was cut for reasons of 'ew' and of course, there were more awesome ways to show he was evil than molesting [[Creator/WhoopiGoldberg Shenzei]].

* Multiple characters have ended up scrapped for the final version of the first film:
** Nala had a younger brother named Mheetu who played an important role. He was created as a character for Nala to protect from the hyenas and Scar. Mheetu was the one who was lured into the gorge, not Simba. Simba tried to save him but failed, so Mufasa saved them. Contary to popular belief, Mheetu was tan like most cubs rather than white (he only looks white because the concept art is uncoloured). He was scrapped for being seen as an unneeded character in a film with an already large cast.

** In one script Simba was taken in not by Timon and Pumbaa, but by a group of (realistic looking) meerkat called the Komboli Rangers. Timon and his mate Tesma were a part of this group. Simba would have parted with them on his own. In a later script, Tesma was retooled as Simba and Nala's (mostly Nala's) childhood friend while Timon was Simba's childhood friend. Pumbaa (then called "Harold") was also a childhood friend of Simba's.

** Rina and Rada were two minor character ratels.

* Very early concept art shows a white cub who was probably Simba. This is commonly thought to mean that ''The Lion King'' was a ripoff or unofficial remake of ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion'', however at this point in development none of the ''Kimba'' similarities existed. It was still in the ''King of the Jungle'' stage.

* Originally the Hula dance with Timon was going to be a ''Film/SaturdayNightFever''-like disco dance.

* Tim Rice initially wanted [[Music/{{ABBA}} Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson]] to write the film's songs, having previously worked with them on ''Theatre/{{Chess}}''. Unfortunately, they were unavailable, so Rice went with his second choice, Music/EltonJohn.

* Creator/HelenMirren, [[Film/{{Waterloo}} Virginia McKenna]], and Creator/VanessaRedgrave were considered for the role of Sarabi before [[Film/ComingToAmerica Madge Sinclair]] was cast.

** Simba's mother Sarabi had three sisters: Naanda, Diku, and Dwala. They were all scrapped. Some semi-canon comics and magazines have shown that Sarabi has sisters, but they are never named.

* There were plans for Zazu (of all characters) to get a love interest in the film, but she was cut from the final product, presumably due to time constraints. Apparently, her name would have been Binti and she would have been voiced by Jane Leeves.

* On the subject of "Be Prepared," Scar has a speaking aside at the start of the song on the soundtrack, in which he denigrates the hyenas. He clearly views them as dispensable tools, rather than deadly partners. Scar’s aside is not found in the film version of the song, since originally, this song took place ''before'' Scar had used the hyenas to try and kill Simba and Nala. Because of the plot adjustment, the song was moved and revised accordingly.

** Creator/JamesCaan, Creator/RobertDuvall, Creator/MalcolmMcDowell, Creator/PatrickStewart, and Creator/RayLiotta were also considered for Scar before the casting of Irons.

* Mufasa's stint as Rafiki's SpiritAdvisor was originally planned to be much more obvious, with the former Lion King's ghost actively speaking to the shaman. Wisely realizing this might come across as unintentionally hilarious, or at least a breaking of the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, the directors decided to instead have all interactions between Rafiki and Mufasa symbolized by the blowing of the wind. This fact is later emphasized when the wind blows around Simba, just before he listens to Kiara and accepts the Outlanders back, and explains why he looks so happy and on the verge of tears at the end, even before he hears Mufasa say [[SoProudOfYou "Well done, my son."]]

* There were plans for Zazu of all characters to get a love interest in the film, but she was cut from the final product, presumably due to time constraints. Apparently, her name would have been Binti and she would have been voiced by Jane Leeves.
* Creator/HelenMirren was considered to voice Zira.
* The Outlanders originally lived in a crystal cave.

* In one concept for the beginning of 'Be Prepared', we could have seen Scar initially meeting the leader of the Hyenas alone, which would have shown him charming her. It was cut for reasons of 'ew' and of course, there were more awesome ways to show he was evil than molesting Creator/WhoopiGoldberg.

* Tim Rice initially wanted [[Music/{{ABBA}} Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson]] to write the film's songs, having previously worked with them on [[Theatre/{{Chess}}]]. Unfortunately, they were unavailable, so Rice went with his second choice, [[Music/EltonJohn]].

* Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/TerryGilliam, Creator/EricIdle, Creator/TerryJones, Creator/MichaelPalin, [[Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral Simon Callow]], Creator/ChrisBarrie, [[Series/TheGoodies Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie]], Creator/DavidJason, Creator/PeterCook, Creator/DudleyMoore, Creator/SpikeMilligan, [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Barker, and Ronnie Corbett]] were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson. were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson.

!!''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''

* * Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/TerryGilliam, Creator/EricIdle, Creator/TerryJones, Creator/MichaelPalin, [[Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral Simon Callow]], Creator/ChrisBarrie, [[Series/TheGoodies Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie]], Creator/DavidJason, Creator/PeterCook, Creator/DudleyMoore, Creator/SpikeMilligan, [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Barker, and Ronnie Corbett]] were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson. were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson.

* Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/TerryGilliam, Creator/EricIdle, Creator/TerryJones, Creator/MichaelPalin, Creator/ChrisBarrie, [[Series/TheGoodies Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie]], Creator/DavidJason, Creator/PeterCook, Creator/DudleyMoore, Creator/SpikeMilligan, [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett]] were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson.

* Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/TerryGilliam, Creator/EricIdle, Creator/TerryJones, Creator/MichaelPalin, [[Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral Simon Callow]], [[Series/{{Blackadder}} Chris Barrie]], [[Series/TheGoodies Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie]], Creator/DavidJason, Creator/PeterCook, Creator/DudleyMoore, Creator/SpikeMilligan, [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Barker]], and [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Corbett]] were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson.

* Creator/TimCurry was initially offered the part of Scar, but turned it down due to scheduling commitments to ''Film/HomeAlone2LostInNewYork''.
** Creator/JamesCaan, Creator/RobertDuvall, Creator/MalcolmMcDowell, Creator/PatrickStewart, and Creator/RayLiotta were also considered for Scar before the casting of Creator/JeremyIrons.
* Creator/HelenMirren and Creator/VanessaRedgrave were considered for the role of Sarabi before [[Film/ComingToAmerica Madge Sinclair]] was cast.
* Creator/JohnCleese, Creator/TerryGilliam, Creator/EricIdle, Creator/TerryJones, Creator/MichaelPalin, [[Series/TheGoodies Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie]], Creator/DavidJason, Creator/PeterCook, Creator/DudleyMoore, Creator/SpikeMilligan, [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Barker]], and [[Series/TheTwoRonnies Ronnie Corbett]] were considered for the part of Zazu before the casting of Creator/RowanAtkinson.
* Creator/JasonAlexander auditioned for both Timon and Pumbaa.