Lin-Manuel Miranda, who earned an Oscar nomination for How Far I’ll Go from Moana, recently discussed why he did not return for its highly anticipated sequel, Moana 2. In an interview ahead of the release of Mufasa: The Lion King, Miranda clarified that his decision wasn’t about choosing one project over the other.
“It didn’t line up that way, actually,” Miranda explained. “I got the script for Mufasa right after finishing Encanto, so I started working on it at the start of 2022. By then, Moana 2 was already in development as a TV series with Emily [Bear] and Abigail [Barlow]. Later, when the decision was made to turn it into a movie, they were already deep into the process.”
Although Miranda wasn’t asked to return for Moana 2, which will once again feature Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, he shared his admiration for Bear and Barlow’s work on the film’s music.
“They’re so talented,” Miranda said. “What’s especially thrilling is seeing Auliʻi’s growth. We hired her when she was just 14, and the songs she’s singing in this new film are incredibly challenging. It’s extraordinary to see how much she’s developed as a performer.”
Miranda, who wrote the music for the original Moana—earning an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy nomination, with a Grammy win for Best Song Written for Visual Media—has now turned his focus to Mufasa. Speaking about the process of creating music for the Lion King prequel, Miranda said he was struck by the script’s unexpected take on Mufasa and Scar’s backstory.
“Everything I thought I knew about Mufasa and Scar was turned upside down,” he said at the film’s premiere. “It’s the story of two brothers who adore each other, and the challenge was tracing the journey from that bond to where we meet them in the original film. The songs naturally flowed from the narrative.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Photo: Getty Images)
Miranda also shared his excitement about collaborating with Barry Jenkins, the director of Mufasa, calling him “one of our great filmmakers” and expressing gratitude for the opportunity.
Jenkins and Miranda also reflected on the legacy of James Earl Jones, who famously voiced Mufasa in the original The Lion King and its 2019 live-action remake. The prequel opens with a tribute to the late actor.
“For Black filmmakers and actors in Hollywood, James Earl Jones was a towering figure,” Jenkins said. “Though I met him only briefly, his portrayal of Mufasa became a father figure for me growing up without one. Honoring him in this film felt deeply personal.”
Miranda recalled meeting Jones in 2008 during a memorable day at the White House, where he performed a song from Hamilton for the first time.
“He was performing Othello’s monologue for the Senate, and we shared a van to the White House. I remember thinking, ‘If this is how my day ends, it’s already the best day of my life.’ He was incredible,” Miranda said.
Jenkins also spoke about directing Blue Ivy Carter in Mufasa, with Beyoncé, her mother, present on set.
“As a mother, Beyoncé stayed behind and watched with pride while Blue performed her scenes,” Jenkins shared. “It’s incredible, given how intimidating it could be to have someone like Beyoncé as your mom. But she made every effort to ensure Blue felt supported and unpressured. It was beautiful to witness.”
Mufasa: The Lion King is set to release in theaters on December 20.
