
In a new interview, the Tony Award winner explains why he wasn't involved in the 'Moana 2' soundtrack and discusses his work on 'Lion King' prequel 'Mufasa: The Lion King'.
- Dec 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for his work on Broadway hits like "Hamilton" and "Encanto", has revealed why he didn't contribute to "Moana 2", the recently-released "Moana" sequel.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Miranda clarified that he was not involved in "Moana 2" because the film had already hired songwriters when it transitioned from a TV series to a movie. Miranda expressed his pride in the composers who worked on the sequel, including Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina, Abigail Barlow, and Emily Bear.
While he did not return to the world of Moana, Miranda has been heavily involved in adapting the film for a live-action remake and has also worked on the soundtrack for "Mufasa: The Lion King", a prequel to the beloved animated classic. Miranda described composing the Mufasa soundtrack as a "labor of love" and praised "Moonlight" director Barry Jenkins for his vision.
Miranda also revealed the personal inspiration behind his involvement with Mufasa. He "insisted" on collaborating with original "Lion King" songwriter Lebo M, who he credits as the "secret sound" of the film. Furthermore, he felt motivated to write a villain song after reading online criticism suggesting he didn't write such songs. Mads Mikkelsen sings the villain song in Mufasa.
Miranda's upcoming projects include "Mufasa: The Lion King", opening in theaters on December 20, and the live-action remake of "Moana".