Lin-Manuel Miranda may be known for his Tony Award-winning work on Hamilton, but the singer, songwriter, and actor is quickly coming into the Disney fold. Following the release of Moana next week, Miranda moves onto Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt. Not only that but there’s also the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
But that isn’t all for him. In fact, he is already lining up his next project for the Mouse House. A new report says that he will now be working with Zootopia co-director Byron Howard on a secret project. More on the story below.
In an interview with Vulture, Miranda revealed that the project is in the very early stages of development and that he is just now having conversations with Howard on where it could go. Here’s the full quote:
“That’s the fun thing about working with someone and having it go well “” you go, “˜Okay, what else can we do?. [John] Lasseter took me aside and said, “˜I have an idea: Here’s Byron and you guys should start talking.’ We literally haven’t gotten in the room yet, but we’re plotting.”
While we know that Miranda is a man of many talents, let’s assume that this project will have a musical element to it. But it could be years before we see the fruits of their labor as research and development for any Disney project takes up to at least five years.
Miranda will also be writing the songs and acting as story supervisor for the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The project comes full circle for him as he cites the movie as an inspiration and he is coming off working with Moana directors Ron Clements and John Musker, the very people who directed the animated Little Mermaid.
While it was a bit too early to talk about it, music composer Alan Menken talked about how excited he would be if he were to collaborate with the Tony Award-winner:
“If this requires new music, I’m here for that, and if this requires me weighing in on who makes this thing, I’m here for that. If this requires me just saying, ‘That doesn’t look like it’s underwater,’ I’m even here for that! It’s going to be a huge challenge to not make it feel uncanny valley–ish.”
To which Miranda replied:
“I’m such a fan that I can’t picture where I’d fit into that universe. But no matter what, I’m here for the ride.”
Moana opens in theaters on November 23, 2016.
[Source: Vulture]
Well, I remember when Howard Ashman & Alan Menken were considered new-flavor Off-Broadway one-hit-wonders after “Little Shop of Horrors”…
Comment by Eric Janssen — November 16, 2016 @ 6:37 pm