10 Iconic Disney Movies That Deserve a Prequel

There been a lot of sequels to Disney movies over the years, but what’s typically less common are prequels. However, in December, a new prequel is coming, which explores the life of Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King. The original animation of The Lion King has continued to be a huge hit for Disney fans, even making its way to the stage. The emotional story takes viewers to the Pride Lands of Tanzania, where the animals that roam there are threatened by the ruling of Scar.

Mufasa was the honorable King, and it’s now time for viewers to be given a wholesome story of how he got to his position. Prequels are useful in expanding a world for audiences to get lost in. They add to the credibility of a movie and answer questions that might not be answered in a sequel. While December will be an exciting month to look to for film buffs, there are still plenty of other Disney films that deserve prequels.

10 A Hercules Prequel Could Look Further Into Greek Mythology

Hercules

The son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.

Director

John Musker , Ron Clements

Release Date

June 13, 1997

Studio

Disney

Cast

Tate Donovan

Runtime

93 minutes

Hercules is the only Disney movie loosely based on Greek mythology, and as such, it stands out in the animated studio’s catalog from the other plot lines. The titular character (known as Heracles in Greek mythology) was raised with mortals and is therefore tasked with proving himself a hero and facing villains along the way before he can be welcomed to Mount Olympus with the rest of the Gods.

With the movie being built on a basis of mythology, a prequel would have plenty of material to delve into and give audiences further context to some of the characters. The likes of Zeus and Hades have backstories that explain their statuses and origins. With the success of Hercules, it seems that a prequel would also be well received.

9 Claude Frollo Needs an Explanation

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

A bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a dancer.

Director

Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise

Release Date

June 21, 1996

Cast

Tom Hulce , Demi Moore

Writers

Tab Murphy , Irene Mecchi , Jonathan Roberts , Noni White , Bob Tzudiker

Runtime

91 minutes

Related

Every Disney Movie From 2023, Ranked

2023 was a unique year for Disney. While it didn’t release major hits, save for a couple of movies, it was a diverse collection of fun stories.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is arguably one of Disney’s most somber movies, with dark quotes, disturbing narratives and heartbreaking scenes. Claude Frollo takes the movie on a sinister path, but viewers don’t find out a lot about why he holds ignorant beliefs nor why he turned out evil.

A prequel wouldn’t be to excuse Frollo for his actions. It would allow viewers to see the effect he had on Paris before The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As Cruella proved, villain origin stories are a popular part of Disney, and there are a lot more villains to be explored.

8 The Servants at Prince Adam’s Castle Deserve Their Backstory to Be Told

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

A prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman’s love.

Director

Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise

Release Date

November 21, 1991

Cast

Paige O’Hara , Robby Benson , Angela Lansbury , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , Bradley Pierce , Jesse Corti , Richard White

Runtime

1 hour 24 minutes

As one of the highest-ranking animated Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast takes magic to the nth degree by bringing inanimate objects to life, surrounded by a love story between the two main characters. While audiences find out the reason behind the Beast and his servants being transformed by a spell, it could make for a great movie.

Viewers would be able to see the full story in front of them and see what life was like for all those who lived in the castle with Prince Adam before the spell was cast. In Beauty and the Beast, only a small scene towards the end shows the castle’s occupants in human form, which could be a bigger part of a prequel and explore Prince Adam as more of an antagonist as he wasn’t as kind in his younger years.

7 Audiences Would Love to Know Where Mary Poppins Comes From

Mary Poppins

In turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.

Director

Robert Stevenson

Release Date

June 18, 1965

Studio

Walt Disney Productions

Cast

Julie Andrews , Dick Van Dyke , David Tomlinson , Glynis Johns , Karen Dotrice , Matthew Garber

Runtime

2 hours 19 minutes

In one of Julie Andrews’ best-known roles, she played the glorious nanny, Mary Poppins. She was hired by George Banks to look after his two children, who were over-awed by Mary’s captivating presence and magical abilities.

Though the film was given a sequel with Mary Poppins Returns, a prequel could be of benefit to open up the narrative on how Mary became the all-singing, all-dancing marvel that she is. Her powers and wisdom manage to blend seamlessly into ordinary life. However, instead of turning up out of thin air, it would be pleasing to know exactly how she came to be, as well as how she knew Bert.

6 Alice’s Dream Has a Lot to It

Alice In Wonderland (1951)

Alice stumbles into the world of Wonderland. Will she get home? Not if the Queen of Hearts has her way.

Director

Ben Sharpsteen , Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske

Release Date

July 28, 1951

Cast

Kathryn Beaumont , Ed Wynn , Richard Haydn , Sterling Holloway , Verna Felton , Jerry Colonna , Bill Thompson

Runtime

75 minutes

Characters By

Lewis Carroll

Production Company

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Distributor(s)

RKO Radio Pictures

A grinning Cheshire cat, singing plants, and a rabbit that is continuously late all make up the imaginative story of Alice in Wonderland. In the animation, Alice wakes up to realize that her adventures in Wonderland were a dream. However, a prequel could still focus on the eccentricity of Wonderland and why it felt so real to Alice.

The array of characters keeps the film entertaining, and there would be plenty to choose from in a prequel. Perhaps they all appear in other people’s dreams because the world does exist. Either way, the compelling movie has a lot to it that would lend nicely to a prequel.

5 The Roots of the Incredibles Family Would Make a Great Movie

The Incredibles

The Parrs are a superpowered family with three children who have a double life as superheroes on a time where the Supers are mostly gone.

Created by

Brad Bird

Latest Film

The Incredibles 2

Cast

Sarah Vowell , Holly Hunter , Craig T. Nelson , Samuel L. Jackson , Spencer Fox , Brad Bird

Related

10 Funniest ’90s Disney Characters, Ranked

Disney movies have always had hilarious characters. But the movies of the ’90s had some of the funniest characters the studio ever created.

The Incredibles are the fun and pretty relatable superhero family that a lot of audiences want more of. The family’s superpowers are redundant, as all super-power activities are banned by the government. Mr. Incredible finds it irritating that he can no longer reach his full potential until an adventure later presents itself.

The film was cleverly written to make the characters believable and, despite their powers, fairly down-to-earth. Audiences know about the family dynamic, but what isn’t described is how Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl came together. Being young characters, viewers are given a bit more context to the three children of the family, but there is definitely scope to discover the love story between the parents.

4 A Spooky Prequel Would Be Perfect for Halloween

Hocus Pocus

A teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.

Director

Kenny Ortega

Release Date

July 16, 1993

Studio

Walt Disney Pictures

Cast

Sarah Jessica Parker , Bette Midler , Kathy Najimy , Omri Katz , Thora Birch , Vinessa Shaw

Runtime

96 minutes

Around Halloween, Hocus Pocus is a must, as it encompasses all the spooky fun of October. The film came out in 1993, depicting the witch Sanderson sisters, Sarah, Mary and Winifred, who had to be stopped in their pursuit of becoming immortal. In 2022, the sisters return after accidentally being brought back.

The second film gave a glimpse of the three witches’ backstory, but it could be developed into a bigger sequel. Their family, what gave them magical powers, and the impact they had on their community are all topics to dig deeper into and give fans yet another Halloween classic.

3 The Toy Story World Could Keep on Growing

Toy Story

Woody, the brave pull-string cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger with a delusional ego, and the rest of Andy’s toy box aren’t just inanimate figures. They’re a vibrant community, facing their own anxieties, dreams, and hilarious hijinks when the coast is clear.

Created by

John Lasseter , Pete Docter , Andrew Stanton , Joe Ranft

First Film

Toy Story

Cast

Tom Hanks , Tim Allen , Don Rickles , John Ratzenberger , Wallace Shawn , Jodi Benson , Joan Cusack

TV Show(s)

Toy Story Toons

Related

15 Longest Disney Movies, Ranked

These Disney movies are longer than most and give viewers a bit more time in their fantasy worlds, from Atlantis: The Lost Empire to Frozen.

The Toy Story franchise has become huge, expanding on the original animation that captured audiences’ hearts from the first scene. While the story is aimed at a younger demographic, the humor also makes it a great watch for adults. Toy Story 5 is due out in 2026, and there is already an origin story for Buzz Lightyear in Lightyear, but there could be more to say in a sequel.

The abundance of toy characters means that any one of them could be the center of a prequel. Woody is obviously the first choice of character to have a film about, but a combination of the main toys would also work well. When they each first discovered they were toys would make a great through-line for a prequel.

2 There Must Be a Dark Story Behind the Ants Serving the Grasshoppers in a Bug’s Life

A Bug’s Life

A misfit ant, looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.

Director

John Lasseter , Andrew Stanton

Release Date

November 25, 1998

Studio

Pixar

Cast

Kevin Spacey , David Foley , Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Writers

John Lasseter , Andrew Stanton , Joe Ranft

Runtime

1 Hour 35 Minutes

Production Company

Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

Like Toy Story, A Bug’s Life was a fun film for children and adults alike, with some jokes that appealed to an older audience. An ant named Flik accidentally caused friction between his colony and Hopper (a grasshopper,) who had a lot of power over the ants. In an attempt to save his friends and family, Flik recruits other bugs to help defend the colony.

Viewers are aware that the ants have to collect food each year for the grasshoppers, or else consequences loom. A prequel could give the story behind the annual event and precisely why the ants are afraid of the grasshoppers. Also, the circus bugs that Flik rallies are all deserving of a backstory that explains their lives and how they became part of the same circus.

1 There are a Few Directions an Aladdin Prequel Could Take

Aladdin (1992)

A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Director

Ron Clements , John Musker

Release Date

November 25, 1992

Cast

Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga

Runtime

1 hour 30 minutes

The voice of Robin Williams made the Genie one of the most flamboyant, hilarious and versatile Disney characters to date. He was the perfect side character in Aladdin, which delivers the love story between Jasmine and Aladdin and the need to stop the main antagonist, Jafar, before he overpowers the Kingdom.

An animated prequel would have the opportunity to paint a picture of Genie’s past and how he came to be confined in the lamp that Aladdin eventually found. There is further room for an understanding of Jasmine and Aladdins’ childhoods and how life differed for them growing up. There could even be yet another villainous origin story, showing how Jafar became obsessed with ruling and why he was so evil with it.