Lin-Manuel Miranda, who received an Oscar nomination for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, opened up about why he didn’t return for its record-breaking sequel, Moana 2.
The award-winning artist sat down with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of Mufasa: The Lion King and explained that it wasn’t a choice between working on the Lion King prequel and Moana 2.
“I got the script for Mufasa when I had just finished Encanto, and so I started working on that at the top of ’22.
So, Moana 2 was already in process as a TV series with Emily [Bear] and Abigail [Barlow].
It was really lovely to see.” Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters Dec. 20.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was nominated for an Oscar for Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” talked candidly about why he didn’t return for the film’s historic follow-up, Moana 2.
Before Mufasa: The Lion King was released, the award-winning artist spoke with The Hollywood Reporter and clarified that there was no choice between working on Moana 2 and the Lion King prequel.
“Actually, it didn’t line up that way,” he said. After I finished Encanto, I received the script for Mufasa, and I began working on it at the beginning of ’22. Thus, Moana 2, starring Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, was already in development as a television series. Thus, they were already in the process of making that into a movie when the decision was made. “”.
The creator of Hamilton had the opportunity to hear Bear and Barlow’s music for the movie, which stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, even though he was not asked to reprise his role.
He remarked, “They’re really talented.”. What’s most exciting is that we hired Auli’i when she was just 14 years old, and the songs she sings in this new movie are really challenging technically. It’s also amazing to see how much she’s grown as a performer. “”.
Miranda composed the first movie’s soundtrack. “How Far I’ll Go” won the Grammy for best song written for visual media and was nominated for both the Oscar and Golden Globes for best original song.
When composing the soundtrack for Mufasa, he clarified that narrating the story of Mufasa and Scar is akin to traveling in a different direction from what the public is familiar with from The Lion King.
At the world premiere, he told THR, “I read the script and I was just so surprised by it.”. All of my preconceived notions about Mufasa and Scar were completely incorrect, and I could clearly see where the songs were going. Many people, including myself, adore The Lion King, so I just wanted to do it right. “”.
“This is a story of two brothers who adore each other, and how do we get from that to the way we met Mufasa and Scar in the original?” he said, referring to the part that audiences are unaware of as the most enjoyable aspect of writing the music for the prequel.
The chance to collaborate with director Barry Jenkins, whom Miranda referred to as “one of our great filmmakers,” was another lure. He said he “was honored that he asked me.”. “.”.
Jenkins and Miranda recalled the late James Earl Jones, who provided the character’s voice in both the 2019 live-action version of The Lion King and the original animated film, in an interview with THR prior to the Mufasa premiere. In the prequel, the actor is honored at the beginning. ).
Jenkins said of the deceased icon, “As a Black person in Hollywood, you have these mentors, these people you look up to.”. I did, however, have a brief prior encounter with him that was unrelated to a specific project. But it was obvious when he passed. There was no father figure in my life. It felt very fitting to find a way to honor this character because he took on the role of a father figure in some ways. “”.
The legend of Jones went beyond the big screen to Broadway, where he had a successful career. Miranda remembered running into him once in Washington, D.C., and seeing him perform multiple times. A.
The In the Heights creator revealed, “My first performance of a Hamilton song at the White House in 2008 was one of my most memorable days.”. He was delivering Othello’s famous speech to the Senate, so I began my day by splitting a van with James Earl Jones and traveling to the White House. And I recall thinking, “This is already the best day of my life if this is how the day ends.”. He was amazing. “”.
Jenkins also reflected on how Beyoncé allowed them to have their own director and actor process while Blue Ivy Carter was acting her parts in Mufasa.
He remarked, “I’ll say that she would stay behind and watch Blue perform her scenes, like a mother would.”. The pride she displayed was truly amazing, but I must admit that it can be intimidating when your mother is the sun, moon, and stars. And I give Beyoncé a lot of credit because, on the days they worked together, she did everything she could to change that. It was truly beautiful to witness. “”.
In December, Mufasa: The Lion King opens in theaters. Twenty.
This story was contributed to by Ryan Fish.
