Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Lin-Manuel Mirandareveals why he didn’t return to the world ofMoanafor therecently-released sequel.
The Tony winner, 44, told PEOPLE at theMufasa: The Lion Kingpremiere on Monday, Dec. 9, that participating inMoana 2wasn’t entirely in the cards for him. Miranda wrote the music for the original 2016 movie, which starredAuliʻi Cravalhoas Moana andDwayne “The Rock” Johnsonas demigod Maui.
Miranda added that he’s “really proud" that composers Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina,Abigail Barlow and Emily Bearworked on the animated sequel.
Maui and Moana in “Moana”.Disney
Disney
While fans won’t hear Miranda’s music and lyrics inMoana 2, he returned to help adapt the film for alive-action remakeand worked with Disney onMufasa.
He told PEOPLE at theMufasapremiere that composingThe Lion Kingprequel soundtrack was a “labor of love.”
“Barry Jenkins is a genius,” he said of theMoonlightOscar-winning director.
TheEncantocomposer added that when he decided to joinMufasa, he “insisted” that originalLion Kingsongwriter Lebo M collaborate with him.
“He is the secret sound ofThe Lion King. He’s the first voice we hear in that original movie,” he said of the South African musician, known for singing the Zulu chant in the film’s opening song. “So I needed him in my corner."
Amy Sussman/WireImage
During an appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonon Dec. 3, Miranda said he felt pressure writing the soundtrack because he wanted to write songs that live up to the originalLion Kingscore, which he described as “all bangers, no skips.” He also talked about the differences in writing for this animated film compared to the ones he’s done in the past.
“I remember reading online someone saying, ‘Lin doesn’t write villain songs.’ LikeMichael Jordan, I took that personally. I wrote a villain song andMads Mikkelsensings it because he’s the big villain in the movie, and he’s terrifying.”
Alongside Mikkelsen,Mufasa: The Lion Kingalso features the voices ofDonald Glover,Seth Rogen,Billy Eichner,Thandiwe Newton,Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Tiffany Boone,Beyoncéand her daughter,Blue Ivy Carter.
An official synopsis for the film reads: “Simba, having become king of the Pride Lands, is determined for his cub to follow in his paw prints while the origins of his late father Mufasa are explored.”
Mufasa in “Mufasa: The Lion King”.Disney
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Mufasa: The Lion Kingpremieres in theatres on Dec. 20.Moana 2is currently in theatres.
source: people.com
