Lin-Manuel Miranda reveals the one regret he has about theMufasa: The Lion Kingmusic. Miranda is the composer of thisLion Kingspinoff 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 Kingfeatures a leading voice castincluding Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Billy Eichner, Blue Ivy Carter, Donald Glover, and Beyoncé.
In an exclusive interview withScreenRant, Miranda speaks about his oneMufasamusic regret. In his interview, theHamiltoncreator was asked about what songs were cut from the movie. He answered thathis “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, he goes on to explain how great it was to work with the cast, including 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?
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 forMufasa: The Lion King. The originalLion 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,Mufasamight 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 cast member in theMufasa: The Lion King’s spinoff. 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 thatMufasa’s actors can sing; it is absolutely essential. The combination of Broadway performers and pop stars such as Beyoncé can make it such that there is a lot of talent behindMufasa.
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. This likely means that the film focuses more heavily on Mufasa rather than Simba, making it seem that Timon and Pumbaa’s sections may have been shorter. AsMufasa: The Lion Kingreleases 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
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
