Top 10 Disney Villains That Should Get Their Own Live-Action Movie

Top 10 Disney Villains That Should Get Their Own Live-Action Movie

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Disney villains that should get their own live-action movie.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the animated antagonists whose lives would make for an awesome feature length film. Our pitches could be for prequels, sequels or narratives that give a new perspective on familiar stories.

Which one of these villain movies would you instantly green light? Let us know in the comments below!

#10: Yzma
“The Emperor's New Groove” (2000)

While Yzma isn’t the most clever or intimidating Disney villain, she's definitely among the funniest. She had us cracking up while she was concocting potions and over elaborate schemes. Seeing where she learned her craft would make for a fun prequel. Maybe Yzma went to a magical school like Hogwarts and excelled at potion making… but not much else. Her movie could be a fun coming-of-age comedy where she embraces her main skill and uses it to succeed. Focusing on Yzma’s funny side would also be an interesting departure from the relatively grounded and serious live action adaptations Disney has produced. If they want audiences to laugh, executives just have to pull the lever on this concept.

#9: Jafar
“Aladdin” (1992)

As cool as it would be to learn why Sa’luk carries golden claws, Jafar is the Aladdin villain with the most potential. He's presented as an intelligent and wicked Grand vizier who desires power and uses a sleek snake staff to hypnotize enemies. But is there a three-dimensional person underneath his villainous sorcerous ambition? Productions like the musical “Twisted” managed to make Jafar much more sympathetic by exploring his personal life. They also reframed his encounters with Aladdin by making the thief more of a threat. A feature film could go a long way to making this sinister sorcerer feel more worthy of the power he craves. At the very least, a movie could explain where he got his powerful staff.

#8: Claude Frollo
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)

Claude Frollo is one of Disney's most despicable villains. He's willing to commit acts of violence against groups of people while claiming his actions are justified by his religious beliefs. While a solo movie may not be enough to completely redeem him, it could give us further insight into how he became this twisted. We could learn if there’s a tragic reason why Frollo fosters so much hatred. At the same time, the film could also chronicle his sinister rise to the powerful position of Minister of Justice. This hateful man didn’t just suddenly command respect out of nowhere. Understanding how Frollo achieved his high position while being so demented has us intrigued.

#7: Hades
“Hercules” (1997)

The wisecracking and volatile Hades has served as the god of the underworld for a ridiculously long time. Maybe he can give us insight into what the job entails in a feature length film. Seeing as the Disney version of Hades is played more for laughs, the movie should carry a similar tone. Shows like “What We Do in the Shadows” manage to blend comedy, dark themes and mythological creatures into one hilariously over-the-top product. Imagine if we got a movie where Hades showed us a day in the afterlife documentary-style while he threw in dry commentary. This kind of story would give us a black comedy of mythological proportions.

#6: Dr. Facilier
“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)

When the audience first meets Dr. Facilier, we see him using voodoo magic to basically grant wishes that come with catches, while barely making enough change to scrape by. He also reveals that he can't directly conjure anything for himself. As Facilier schemes to make a fortune, his magical shadow follows him through his dark adventures in New Orleans. Admittedly, “Wonder Woman 1984” had a subplot where the financially struggling Max Lord granted twisted wishes. But Dr. Facilier’s story would show him learning voodoo, acquiring his shadow and all be set in New Orleans. Did he lose himself while trying to make a life spent granting people’s desires, like Max Lord did? A Facilier film could bring us to the other side of that question.

#5: Captain Hook
“Peter Pan” (1953)

There are a few key parts of the comedic Captain Hook’s backstory that pretty much everyone knows. He captains the Jolly Roger, he’s scared of a ticking crocodile and has major beef with Peter Pan. But beyond those three facts, his life prior to his movie debut is pretty open-ended. Disney could easily take a page from the “Pirates of the Carribean”series and give us a swashbuckling story where we see Hook rise to become a feared man of the sea. To set the movie apart from that franchise, a big portion of the plot should take place in Neverland. But unlike “Pan”, Hook’s solo film should solely focus on the pirate. Let’s give him time to shine without his young nemesis for once.

#4: Mother Gothel
“Tangled” (2010)

After an elderly Gothel discovered a magical flower, she was able to restore her youth for centuries. The plant was eventually given to a pregnant queen. Since the flower's magic transferred to baby Rapunzel, Gothel kidnapped the child to continue using the powers. That leaves hundreds of years of the villain’s backstory as a complete mystery. Thanks to the “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure” series, we know she had a child named Cassandra. Did Gothel fall for someone after hundreds of years? And what did she do with centuries of life? A live-action movie would definitely help us answer these time sensitive questions.

#3: Scar
“The Lion King” (1994)

A lion as bitter and vicious as Scar towards his brother definitely has a backstory worth exploring. According to the “The Lion Guard,” the lion got his trademark facial feature after he was tricked and attacked by a cobra. When he returned home, his brother Mufasa gave him the nickname “Scar.” Combining this story with some of the early history between the brothers could make for a tragic movie that depicts two siblings falling apart from each other. It would come with some cutting edge CGI. And if that film was successful, we could get a spinoff focused on Zira, a lioness loyal to Scar.

#2: The Evil Queen
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)

In “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, The Evil Queen sends a huntsman and offers a poisoned apple to her innocent stepdaughter Snow White. Although she has enough savagery to carry an entire movie, “Once Upon a Time” has a roadmap to make her more sympathetic. On the show, Regina, who would become the evil queen, fell in love with a stable boy named Daniel. But she was supposed to marry Snow White’s father. After the young Snow White accidentally told Regina’s mother about Daniel, he literally lost his heart. Using this plotline partially or in full for an Evil Queen prequel would help make the film one of the fairest adaptations of them all.

Before we reveal our sinister top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Queen of Hearts, “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
It Would Be Interesting to See How This Vicious Royal Came to Power

Gaston or the Enchantress, “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
Let’s See What Gaston & the Enchantress Were Doing Before the Tale as Old as Time

Lady Tremaine, “Cinderella” (1950)
Why Is this Stepmother So Wicked? Let’s Find Out

Hans, “Frozen” (2013)
Could This Cold-Hearted Prince Redeem Himself in a Sequel Story?

Shere Khan,“The Jungle Book” (1967)
This Sly Tiger Definitely Has Interesting Tales to Tell

#1: Ursula
“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

Our favorite sea witch is a perfect candidate for an adaptation. Ursula was banished from the kingdom before the events of “The Little Mermaid”. Ever since she ended up in exile, she's been casting spells for unfortunate Souls who come her way. The way in which Ursula deals with those who can’t pay her price and how she came to be who she is now could be great to explore in a prequel. The film could also answer the question of why she was banished in detail. And if this movie took a page out of the musical's book, she’d have the added layer of being Triton’s sister. Ursula’s magic, banishment and possible relation to the king would make for a very fortunate live action film.