Many kids who grew up with Disney classics are now having families of their own, and the remake era allows the next generation to experience the magic of the beloved stories for the first time in theaters (or streaming). Disney's live-action remakes have been polarizing for both audiences and critics alike, but they still keep coming. Even a few notable Disney villains have stepped into the spotlight with their own unique origin stories.Related:15 Best Disney Animated Musical Numbers of All Time, Ranked Maleficent and Cruella's prequels definitely drew mixed opinions from fans. Are there other Disney villains more deserving of the spotlight? Who are these poor unfortunate souls?

Yzma – The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

Yzma from Emperors New Groove

Voiced by the legendary Eartha Kitt, Yzma’s spirit and determination to destroy Kuzco makes her a notable Disney antagonist. How did this Incan scientist and her iconic purple eyeshadow weasel her way into raising the heir to the throne?

While audiences only know her as a villain, Yzma’s backstory has the potential for a strong voice to emerge, promoting science and intelligence to young audiences. Many Disney villains are only iconic because of a flashy musical number, but Yzma's character has enough depth to make her a great lead.

Dr. Facilier/Shadow Man – The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Dr Facilier smiling while holding a small chest in The Princess and The Frog

It’s time to hear it from the Shadow Man himself: How did he get to know his friends on the other side? Dr. Facilier (voiced by Keith David) holds rank with the best of Disney’s fairytale villains. This hustler’s story is a blank canvas, making it a dream for any screenwriter.

Musical or not, Facilier’s background can showcase the Louisiana history and culture that made its original film so special. Much like Cruella, a backstory for Facilier can demonstrate how cruel the world can be, turning audiences to root for the villain as a protagonist.

Ernesto de la Cruz – Coco (2017)

Ernesto de la Cruz looking surprised in Coco
Image via Disney

Not fully aged into the Disney library just yet, Ernesto de la Cruz is the perfect opportunity for Disney and Pixar to seize their moment. Coco was a bright yet dark addition to the animated canon of these production giants. Even with the magic and spirituality from the Great Beyond, Ernesto de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt) was still a villain before his death.

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The original composers and writers could easily mirror Ernesto’s love for music with Miguel’s from Coco. Many of the modern-day tropes (music, money, greed, and family) are easily transmissible to the early 1900s Mexico where two young men, Hector and Ernesto, set out on a music career leaving behind the world they know for big dreams.

Amos Slade – The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Amos Slade from The Fox and The Hound

Thus far, Disney’s prequels and remakes have explored magic, fairy tales, and now with Cruella, the downtrodden. Amos Slade (voiced by Jack Albertson) is not an easily recognizable villain, besides perhaps the notable white long johns. Amos is a man who sticks to what he knows — hunting and hound dogs.

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There’s a viewership that can identify with this man — the hardworking American with little to his name but content with his simplicity. His dedication to his dogs and his ending redemption gives a glimmer of a bond built between a boy and his dog, a story that Disney has found success with previously in Old Yeller from 1957.

Madam Mim – The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Madam Mim from Sword In The Stone

Madam Mim from The Sword in the Stone is an excellent candidate for a backstory. Her voice is courtesy of Martha Wentworth, who lent her voice to Disney previously as Nanny in 1961’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The question remains, how did this short, spirited woman gain the skills and wizardry to go toe-to-toe with Merlin?

While Mim’s time is brief in the classic animated feature, her ability to hold her own in a battle of wit and skill poses an interesting conversation on where it all started. Mim is an underrecognized villain when audiences think of sorceresses Disney’s brought to life, but her charisma can lend to a live-action depiction in the form of a musical or straightforward film. With the fantasy and medieval genre resonating with audiences, there is a lot to be fleshed out for this classic character.

Ursula & Morgana – The Little Mermaid (1989) and The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000)

Ursual and Morgana from The Litter Mermaid 1 and 2

This movie is already getting its live-action debut in 2023, but it’s unclear the variations this remake will use with regards to the villain. Ursula and Morgana are oceanic forces to be reckoned with. The sea-witches are voiced by the same actress, Pat Carroll.

Both women (or octopi) have strong motives to destroy the heroines of The Little Mermaid franchise, Ariel in the first and her daughter, Melody, in the second. Revealing the history of these sisters could demonstrate what was potentially a great bond destroyed by competitive spirits, driving them apart. Depending on the direction the current remake takes, these sisters could be next in line for a prequel.

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