Lin-Manuel Miranda on Mufasa and the secret to a Disney hit

The Hamilton creator, who crafted the soundtrack for the new prequel to The Lion King, reflects on writing songs that have universal appeal.

Busy songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. Jono Searle/Getty Images

Sarah Bahr

Dec 26, 2024 – 5.00am

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When director Barry Jenkins approached Lin-Manuel Miranda about writing the songs for Mufasa, Disney’s new photorealistic prequel to the 2019 remake of The Lion King, he was, to say the least, a little busy.

It was the summer of 2021, and Miranda had just finished writing the soundtrack for Encanto, also from Disney. He was editing his feature directorial debut, the Jonathan Larson biopic Tick, Tick … Boom! He was doing press – or about to – for those two movies, along with two more: In the Heights (the adaptation of his Tony Award-winning musical) and Vivo.