Lin-Manuel Miranda wants Disney to remake The Lion King 1½.
Miranda serves as a composer and lyricist on Mufasa: The Lion King, which releases in United States theaters later this month. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the movie, which is made through photorealistic animation, serves as both a prequel and a sequel to 2019’s The Lion King, which was a photorealistic adaptation of the 1994 animated film.
Speaking with ComicBook, Miranda expressed his desire for a The Lion King 1½ remake following the release of Mufasa: The Lion King.
What did Lin-Manuel Miranda say about The Lion King 1½?
“I’m holding out for a live-action remake of Lion King 1½,” he said. “Because you know what, that’s the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of extended Lion King universe, and it’s low-key great!”
The Lion King 1½ is a direct-to-video movie directed by Bradley Raymond. It was released in 2004, roughly a decade after The Lion King and eight years after The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, another direct-to-video sequel that arrived in 1998.
“From their uniquely hysterical perspective, Timon and his windy pal Pumbaa — the greatest unsung heroes of the Savanna — reveal where they came from, how they helped Simba save the Serengeti, and what really happened behind the scenes of The Lion King’s biggest events,” the synopsis for the film reads. “This essential chapter of The Lion King trilogy features your favorite characters voiced by the original cast (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella, plus Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller) and music by Elton John and Tim Rice. You’ll feel the love for every outrageously funny moment.”
The Lion King 1½ is currently streaming on Disney+.
Mufasa: The Lion King, meanwhile, arrives on December 20, 2024, from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film’s voice cast includes Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Bill Eichner as Timon, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, and more.
