Lin-Manuel Miranda reveals the one regret he has about the Mufasa: The Lion King music. Miranda is the composer of this original Lion King spinoff musical, which is set for release this week on December 20. The film is both a sequel and prequel, chronologically. It tells the story of Mufasa’s early days in the Pride Lands while also weaving in the tale of Simba and Nala and their cub, Kiara. Mufasa: The Lion King features a leading voice cast including Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Billy Eichner, Blue Ivy Carter, Donald Glover, and Beyoncé.
In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Miranda speaks to his one Mufasa music regret. In his interview, the Hamilton creator was asked about what songs were cut from the movie. He answered that his “only regret is [he] didn’t get to write a tune for Billy Eichner, who has an incredible voice.” While he may not have written a Timon tune this time around, he did go on to explain how great it was to work with the cast, which included some “Broadway legends” among other strong vocalists. Check out the full quote from Miranda below:
ScreenRant: Lin, I loved the brothers song that Mufasa sings. Can you also talk about collaborating with these incredible actors, and were there any songs that didn’t quite make it into the film that you wish they could have been?
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Oh, that’s interesting. Well, to the first part of your question, by the time I came aboard, it was cast, so I was sort of like, “Please be able to sing. Please be able to sing.” And he has some Broadway ringers in there in the form of Anika Noni Rose and Keith David, who were both Broadway legends, so that was really exciting writing to their voices.
Then Aaron Pierre has such an incredible instrument, and he was so nervous. He’s was like, “I’ve only ever sung in church.” I was like, “Listen to how you sound, you’re going to be amazing.” So it was really exciting getting to hear them sing. My only regret is I didn’t get to write a tune for Billy Eichner who has an incredible voice; I’ve known him since our early off, off, off off-Broadway days. They were all incredible – Barry knocked out of the park casting this thing.
What This Means For Mufasa: The Lion King
Timon Will Not Get A Moment
Not hearing Eicher’s vocal talent may not be felt by some people as much as Miranda did, but the lack of a Timon song will be an interesting shift for Mufasa: The Lion King. The original Lion King‘s Timon and Pumbaa duet, “Hakuna Matata,” is one of the most beloved songs from the film. It is one that Eichner and co-star Seth Rogen got to recreate for the 2019 remake of the film. Without a song from everyone’s favorite warthog and meerkat, Mufasa might lack some of the musical levity of the first movie.
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That said, Miranda is also sure to emphasize the vocal power of every member of Mufasa: The Lion King‘s cast. Though the film is oft referred to as live-action, the photorealistic animation makes it such that all the actors will be heard in voice only. For this reason, it is not just a plus that Mufasa‘s actors can sing; it is absolutely essential. The combination of Broadway talents and pop stars such as Beyoncé can make it such that there is a lot of talent behind Mufasa.
Our Take On The Mufasa Music Explanation
Audiences May Miss A “Hakuna Matata” Type Tune
Reading this quote from Miranda, I am left wondering why exactly he did not get to write a song for Eichner, if he is indeed so passionate about the power of his voice. Likely, this means the film focuses more heavily on Mufasa rather than Simba, making it such that Timon and Pumbaa’s sections may have just been shorter. As Mufasa: The Lion King releases in theaters this weekend, it will be interesting to see whether audiences miss the lack of any kind of “Hakuna Matata” moment.
Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the live-action remake of the original Disney animated film, The Lion King. The film will follow Mufasa in his early days; further plot details are currently under wraps. The film will likely explore Mufasa and Scar’s relationship and how it became as strained as it did. In the film, Timon and Pumba will return, with Billy Eicher and Seth Rogen reprising their roles.
- Release Date
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December 20, 2024
- Main Genre
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Adventure
- Director
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Barry Jenkins
- Writers
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Jeff Nathanson
