What If These Disney Villains Won?
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VOICE OVER: Emily Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Tyler Allen
Disney fairy tales always end happily, but what if the villains had their way? Join us as we explore the dark alternate realities where Jafar, Ursula, Frollo, Cruella de Vil, and Scar triumph over our beloved heroes, transforming their magical kingdoms into nightmarish landscapes of power and destruction. We'll dive into how each villain would reshape their world, from Jafar's scientific Agrabah to Ursula's underwater tyranny, Frollo's genocidal Paris, Cruella's fur-driven madness, and Scar's desolate Pride Lands.
What If These Disney Villains Won
Princesses, enchantment, true love’s kiss––when it comes to Disney’s fairy tales, one can always count on a happy ending. But what if a page was torn from the story book? What if darkness prevailed, and the villains’ wicked plots came to fruition?1 Welcome toMsMojo, and today we’re revisiting five original Disney films to imagine what would’ve happened to the kingdoms if the villains had won.2 Once upon a time, the folklore that inspired so many beloved Disney stories saw much grimmer conclusions. So let’s cast ourselves into a land of make believe, where virtue and magic are thwarted by the sinister agendas of Disney’s most iconic baddies.3
For one, Jafar wields a snake staff capable of hypnosis, so putting Aladdin under a zombie-like spell could have been a hasty fix. But if that didn’t work, then using one of the genie’s wishes to permanently remove his greatest adversary from the equation would have certainly done the trick.1 With Aladdin totally out of the way, Jafar’s initial plot becomes easier to pull off. 2As the new sultan of Agrabah and the genie’s evil master, Jafar can think bigger than just getting out from under Jasmine and the former Sultan’s thumbs. So what would his reign look like? 3
Though Jafar’s ambitions are often announced with terrifying laughter and booming thunder, there’s reason to believe he would make a fascinating ruler. Throughout the film, the people of Agrabah are depicted as faithfully loyal to the ruling Sultan, and Jafar doesn’t express any explicit desire to cause the lower class more harm than they’d already endured. Afterall, Jafar uses his wishes to enrich himself, only enacting harsh punishments on those he deems antagonistic to his goals.1 Despite being the story’s villain, Jafar is set to lead a far greater revolution than the sometimes aloof Sultan Hamed was capable of. Disney’s Jafar is loosely based on real Persian vizier Ja'far ibn Yahya, a patron of the sciences who promoted medicine, astronomy, and engineering. So in this alternate version of “Aladdin,” Sorcerer Jafar uses his cunning to advance a city of loyal subjects, with opportunities to imperialize nations once beyond his grip—sometimes to the benefit of the people, but always to the benefit of himself. 2
Though her rise to queen can be interpreted as feminist virtue, Ursula proves to be far from a girl’s girl. She’s willing to use Ariel as a pawn in her bartering game, swiping her voice and transforming into an alluring woman to steal Prince Eric.1 Furthermore, her voice deepens once she dons the crown, signaling a shift from a feminine figure to a masculine tyrant.2 In this new Atlantica, dark magic reigns supreme. Just like the days when Ursula lived in the palace and enjoyed fantastical feasts, she once again indulges in royal pampering.3 And because she never showed any true regard for merpeople, the creatures of the ocean serve as nothing more than the decorations of her damned underworld.
Frollo is such a terrifying tyrant because he imposes a strict moral code on his people while failing to adhere to it himself.1 His combination of hatred and lust for Esmeralda sparks an impish hellfire within him, sparking a madness that leads to his undoing. But for all his flaws, it’s safe to say that he could have gotten away with his crimes if his army was just a little more… adept. Frollo’s guards primarily serve as comic relief, constantly bested in cartoonish ways. If his underlings actually suppressed Quasimodo and the swelling mob, 15th century France would have looked a lot different.2 Early in the film, he details his desire to vanquish the Romani people.3 And he states numerous times that he is willing to burn down all of Paris if necessary. By the end of the story, Paris is quite literally burning: a manifestation of his rage and the way he belies his faith. So should Frollo win, he spearheads a fullout genocide against the Romani people, reducing the city to embers in the process.4
Cruella’s sick fantasy of turning a litter of dalmatians into her next fur coat actually reveals a lot about her temperament. She views puppies and people as means to an end, bossing around her former schoolmate and the burglars she hired to kidnap the canines.1 As word spreads of Cruella’s cruel plans, the cats and dogs of London unite to thwart her. But what if she’d actually pulled it off? Several clues indicate what she might do next.2 When the dogs disguise themselves as labradors, Cruella turns her nose up at them, only interested in pretty things. Her taste for rare breeds and glamorous patterns proves that her appetite would only grow once she pulls off the heist. Even the thought of violently slaying puppies couldn’t temper Cruella’s trophy hunting frenzy.3 So with an unclouded conscience and a lot of money to throw around, there’s truly nothing standing in her way. While we only see Cruella in a couple iconic coats throughout the film, this darker ending emboldens her to add an even grander collection of exotic animal furs to her closet. Look out for the lynx coats in the sequel!
“The Lion King” actually draws a bit of inspiration from biblical tales and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” In that story, the rightful heir perishes in battle with the evil Uncle who stole the throne. Should Scar have defeated Simba in this final duel, the Pride Lands would have suffered an extended dark age. But it’s unlikely Scar holds onto power for long. His goal to weaken the pride leaves him vulnerable to the bitter animals that scavenge the land.1 Under Scar’s rule, “The Lion King” still ends with his defeat––if not at the claws of Simba, then at the mercy of the circle of life. This law of balance is spelled out explicitly in the story.2 So Scar cannot sit at the top of the food chain forever.3 His eagerness to violate the kingdom’s sacred hunting rights proves that he doesn’t respect nature’s order. And he betrays the hyena army just as quickly as he recruited it. So while Scar may enjoy a few more moons as king, he should be prepared for a royal toppling at the fangs of his disgruntled subordinates.
Which Disney universes would look the most terrifying if the villain won? Share your comments below.
Princesses, enchantment, true love’s kiss––when it comes to Disney’s fairy tales, one can always count on a happy ending. But what if a page was torn from the story book? What if darkness prevailed, and the villains’ wicked plots came to fruition?1 Welcome toMsMojo, and today we’re revisiting five original Disney films to imagine what would’ve happened to the kingdoms if the villains had won.2 Once upon a time, the folklore that inspired so many beloved Disney stories saw much grimmer conclusions. So let’s cast ourselves into a land of make believe, where virtue and magic are thwarted by the sinister agendas of Disney’s most iconic baddies.3
JAFAR
One of the most duplicitous Disney villains, Jafar begins as a royal vizier with dreams of becoming the almighty sultan of Agrabah.1 Unfortunately for him, scrappy street rat Aladdin repeatedly intervenes. Jafar casts Aladdin away several times––first into a cave, then the sea, and finally a frozen wasteland2––but Aladdin just keeps finding his way back.3 In the final battle, Aladdin puts an end to the would-be ruler, but a few minor corrections in Jafar’s plans would have conjured a far different outcome.4For one, Jafar wields a snake staff capable of hypnosis, so putting Aladdin under a zombie-like spell could have been a hasty fix. But if that didn’t work, then using one of the genie’s wishes to permanently remove his greatest adversary from the equation would have certainly done the trick.1 With Aladdin totally out of the way, Jafar’s initial plot becomes easier to pull off. 2As the new sultan of Agrabah and the genie’s evil master, Jafar can think bigger than just getting out from under Jasmine and the former Sultan’s thumbs. So what would his reign look like? 3
Though Jafar’s ambitions are often announced with terrifying laughter and booming thunder, there’s reason to believe he would make a fascinating ruler. Throughout the film, the people of Agrabah are depicted as faithfully loyal to the ruling Sultan, and Jafar doesn’t express any explicit desire to cause the lower class more harm than they’d already endured. Afterall, Jafar uses his wishes to enrich himself, only enacting harsh punishments on those he deems antagonistic to his goals.1 Despite being the story’s villain, Jafar is set to lead a far greater revolution than the sometimes aloof Sultan Hamed was capable of. Disney’s Jafar is loosely based on real Persian vizier Ja'far ibn Yahya, a patron of the sciences who promoted medicine, astronomy, and engineering. So in this alternate version of “Aladdin,” Sorcerer Jafar uses his cunning to advance a city of loyal subjects, with opportunities to imperialize nations once beyond his grip—sometimes to the benefit of the people, but always to the benefit of himself. 2
URSULA
Unlike Jafar, sea witch Ursula is far crueler to her subjects in “The Little Mermaid.” The disgraced younger sister of King Triton has big plans for the kingdom of Atlantica once she secures the throne.1 Ursula understands the ways in which the patriarchy is upheld, while the very idea of matriarchy is frowned upon.2 She teaches naive Ariel how to harness her rebellious streak by embracing womanhood, and of course: body language.3 Though she claims to help poor unfortunate souls, it’s only for her own gain. With Ariel enslaved to Ursula’s impossible contract and Triton reduced to one of her shriveled pets, the witch finally scores the powerful trident. And it’s quite terrifying to imagine what would have happened if she sunk Eric’s ship before he could impale her.4Though her rise to queen can be interpreted as feminist virtue, Ursula proves to be far from a girl’s girl. She’s willing to use Ariel as a pawn in her bartering game, swiping her voice and transforming into an alluring woman to steal Prince Eric.1 Furthermore, her voice deepens once she dons the crown, signaling a shift from a feminine figure to a masculine tyrant.2 In this new Atlantica, dark magic reigns supreme. Just like the days when Ursula lived in the palace and enjoyed fantastical feasts, she once again indulges in royal pampering.3 And because she never showed any true regard for merpeople, the creatures of the ocean serve as nothing more than the decorations of her damned underworld.
FROLLO
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” sees one of the most complex and downright evil villains in Judge Claude Frollo. Serving as Paris’ Minister of Justice, Frollo commits a suspicious number of injustices throughout the film.1 His pure disdain for Romani people stems from religious zealotry and the need to control the masses with an iron fist.2 Meanwhile, Frollo can hardly control himself.3 He chases Esmerelda into a church, insisting she be arrested even though it’s against the law to detain a citizen in sanctuary.4 And this isn’t the first time he outwardly defied the mores of the church.5Frollo is such a terrifying tyrant because he imposes a strict moral code on his people while failing to adhere to it himself.1 His combination of hatred and lust for Esmeralda sparks an impish hellfire within him, sparking a madness that leads to his undoing. But for all his flaws, it’s safe to say that he could have gotten away with his crimes if his army was just a little more… adept. Frollo’s guards primarily serve as comic relief, constantly bested in cartoonish ways. If his underlings actually suppressed Quasimodo and the swelling mob, 15th century France would have looked a lot different.2 Early in the film, he details his desire to vanquish the Romani people.3 And he states numerous times that he is willing to burn down all of Paris if necessary. By the end of the story, Paris is quite literally burning: a manifestation of his rage and the way he belies his faith. So should Frollo win, he spearheads a fullout genocide against the Romani people, reducing the city to embers in the process.4
CRUELLA DE VIL
Disney’s most fashionable femme fatale, Cruella de Vil, is undoubtedly rotten to the core.1 A toxic green cloud even follows her around, warning of her menacing presence. The stakes of “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” are perhaps not as epic as other stories, but Cruella makes up for it with her devilishly wicked whims. She fancies her lavish wardrobe, in fact it drives her.2 Cruella’s flashy embellishments make her much bigger––she takes up the most space in a room. Though it may seem petty, Cruella’s grand splendor actually symbolizes a deep class divide. Her distaste for the less fortunate kicks off a mean streak, especially when the Radcliffes refuse to sell her the puppies she desires for a vanity project.3Cruella’s sick fantasy of turning a litter of dalmatians into her next fur coat actually reveals a lot about her temperament. She views puppies and people as means to an end, bossing around her former schoolmate and the burglars she hired to kidnap the canines.1 As word spreads of Cruella’s cruel plans, the cats and dogs of London unite to thwart her. But what if she’d actually pulled it off? Several clues indicate what she might do next.2 When the dogs disguise themselves as labradors, Cruella turns her nose up at them, only interested in pretty things. Her taste for rare breeds and glamorous patterns proves that her appetite would only grow once she pulls off the heist. Even the thought of violently slaying puppies couldn’t temper Cruella’s trophy hunting frenzy.3 So with an unclouded conscience and a lot of money to throw around, there’s truly nothing standing in her way. While we only see Cruella in a couple iconic coats throughout the film, this darker ending emboldens her to add an even grander collection of exotic animal furs to her closet. Look out for the lynx coats in the sequel!
SCAR
During the first act of the film, “The Lion King’s” fearsome feline, Scar, actually gets away with an elaborate scheme to conquer the land. After killing Mufasa and banishing Simba, he rears his ugly head as king. The drought-stricken land falls into darkness, and those he promised would never be hungry again are quite literally starving.1 Meanwhile, Scar picks his teeth with the bones of his latest feast, a symbol of the entitlement he’s always possessed.2“The Lion King” actually draws a bit of inspiration from biblical tales and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” In that story, the rightful heir perishes in battle with the evil Uncle who stole the throne. Should Scar have defeated Simba in this final duel, the Pride Lands would have suffered an extended dark age. But it’s unlikely Scar holds onto power for long. His goal to weaken the pride leaves him vulnerable to the bitter animals that scavenge the land.1 Under Scar’s rule, “The Lion King” still ends with his defeat––if not at the claws of Simba, then at the mercy of the circle of life. This law of balance is spelled out explicitly in the story.2 So Scar cannot sit at the top of the food chain forever.3 His eagerness to violate the kingdom’s sacred hunting rights proves that he doesn’t respect nature’s order. And he betrays the hyena army just as quickly as he recruited it. So while Scar may enjoy a few more moons as king, he should be prepared for a royal toppling at the fangs of his disgruntled subordinates.
Which Disney universes would look the most terrifying if the villain won? Share your comments below.
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