Matthew Broderick has starred on Broadway but his singing voice still wasn't used in the original "Lion King" film. He says he recorded the music as Simba but the studio decided against it, instead opting to use vocals provided by Toto singer Joseph Williams.
Simba was originally voiced by actors Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as an adult and cub, respectively; various actors have voiced the character in related media.
After wowing the studio with his singing, Weaver says that directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff did offer him the speaking roles but they had already inked their contract with Home Improvement's Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Conversation. Mind-blowing text from my bestie: “Just learned that the guy who has been lead singer of Toto since 1986, Joseph Williams, is the son of composer John Williams. He also sang the Gummy Bears theme song and was the singing voice of adult Simba in the Lion King.”
The speaking voice of adult Nala is provided by American actress Moira Kelly, who had learned that Disney was auditioning actors for the role from her agent. Despite not being the directors' first choice, Kelly was granted an audition because the filmmakers were interested in hearing different voices at the time.
Mufasa's latest movie will be releasing this year and fans of all ages of this epic Lion King franchise are eagerly waiting for it. The film is set to be released on December 20, 2024, which will serve as a treat during the Christmas holidays.
The song is performed by American actor and singer Jason Weaver as the singing voice of young Simba, with English actor Rowan Atkinson and American actress Laura Williams providing supporting vocals in their roles as Zazu and the singing voice of young Nala, respectively.
When the project first came across Atkinson's desk, however, he wasn't immediately on board. "I didn't want to do it, really, because voiceovers, voice work is something I generally had never done and never liked," Atkinson reveals on the latest episode of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing.
Why did Matthew Broderick not sing in The Lion King?
Matthew Broderick has starred on Broadway but his singing voice still wasn't used in the original "Lion King" film. He says he recorded the music as Simba but the studio decided against it, instead opting to use vocals provided by Toto singer Joseph Williams.
Even as a child, he had the wherewithal (or great advisors that guided him) to turn down a $2 million flat fee for his role in The Lion King, instead favoring a flat upfront payment along with royalties to be paid for his lifetime. As a result, he still enjoys Disney checks to this day.
One day, on a solo patrol, Askari encountered a mysterious lion, who suggested that Askari should be the King of the Pride Lands instead of Mufasa; a thought that intrigued Askari. However, the lion led him to a trap where a cobra bit his left eye, giving him his infamous scar as well as poisoning Askari's mind.
However, he could not reprise Simba's singing in "The Morning Report" from the 2003 Special Edition DVD because at this point he was an adult, therefore his vocals were too low. Weaver was replaced by Evan Saucedo.
Rowan Atkinson as Zazu, a hornbill who serves as the king's majordomo (or "Mufasa's little stooge", as Shenzi calls him). Madge Sinclair as Queen Sarabi, Mufasa's mate, Simba's mother, and the leader of the lioness hunting party.
Trivia. Liam was once considered to voice Mufasa in The Lion King, along with Sean Connery, but James Earl Jones was cast in the end. Ironically, he would eventually voice another lion, Aslan, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.
Scar debuted in The Lion King (1994). The scheming younger brother of Mufasa, Scar was next-in-line to take the throne until his nephew Simba, Mufasa's son, was born, replacing him. Determined to seize the throne, Scar devises a plan to kill both Simba and Mufasa.
Mufasa is a name of African origin that means “king” or “ruler.” The name has Swahili roots and is commonly used in the eastern regions of Africa. In Swahili, the word “mufasa” is derived from the verb “ku-fasa,” which means to “rule over” or “govern.” 🦁
Release. Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2024. It was previously scheduled for release on July 5, 2024, but was delayed to its current date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
From what we see in the movie, that means either Mufasa is Nala's father, making the two lovers half-siblings, or Scar is Nala's father, making the two cousins. Either way, yeowch.
In the real world, Mufasa would have been the father of both Simba and Nala and, depending on his age, some other lionesses too. But this is Disney and Incest is a Very Bad Thing, so instead, Nala's father is an unnamed rogue lion.
Consequently, it would be reasonable to assume Simba is approximately 4 years old by the end of The Lion King, but could be a little older. Lions typically live between 10 and 15 years, but some can survive for up to 30 years, meaning the Pride Lands would've had many years of peace under Simba's rule.
