Lin-Manuel Miranda Wants a Disney The Lion King 1½ Remake

Lin-Manuel Miranda wants Disney to remake it The Lion King 1½.

Miranda serves as composer and lyricist on Mufasa: The Lion King, which hits U.S. theaters later this month. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film is made through photorealistic animation and serves as a prequel and sequel to 2019’s The Lion King, which was a live-action adaptation of the 1994 animated film.

Talk to Comic bookMiranda expressed interest in remaking The Lion King 1½ after the release of Mufasa: The Lion King.

What did Lin-Manuel Miranda say about The Lion King 1½?

“I’m waiting for the live-action remake of Lion King 1½,” he said. “Because you know what, this is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the extended Lion King universe, and it’s low-key cool!”

The Lion King 1½ is a direct-to-video film directed by Bradley Raymond. It was released in 2004, almost a decade after The Lion King and eight years after the release of The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, another direct-to-video sequel that arrived in 1998.

“From their uniquely hysterical perspective, Timon and his stormy sidekick Pumbaa—the greatest unsung heroes of the savannah—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,” reads the film’s synopsis. “This essential chapter in 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 love every outrageously funny moment.

The Lion King 1½ is currently streaming on Disney+.

Mufasa: The Lion King, meanwhile, will arrive on December 20, 2024, from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film’s voice cast includes Aaron Bier as Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Bill Eichner as Timon, Mads Mikkelsen as Kyros, and more.