Movies

Why Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t return for Moana 2

BBG News

Why Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't return for Moana 2

As a lifelong Disney enthusiast who has watched countless animated films and sung along to countless soundtracks, I must say that my feelings towards Moana 2 are a rollercoaster of emotions. On one hand, it’s always a joy to see our favorite characters return to the big screen, especially when they’re accompanied by new friends like the talented Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear.

According to many reports, “Moana 2” has become a box-office success for Disney. The second installment of the 2016 animated film takes Moana on an extensive journey across the vast oceans of Oceania, accompanied by Maui and a team of unconventional sailors.

In the upcoming continuation, you’ll see Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles as Moana and Maui. As before, it’s an exciting musical journey, but on this occasion, Lin-Manuel Miranda isn’t responsible for composing the music.

In contrast, the music in Moana 2 is composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, who were both recipients of a Grammy. This talented songwriting pair won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2022 with The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.

Although the anticipated release of Moana 2 boasts considerable talent, it’s generally acknowledged that its music does not measure up to the caliber of its original counterpart. Some speculate that Lin-Manuel Miranda declined participation in Moana 2 to compose the music for Mufasa: The Lion King. Now, if you’ve been curious about why Lin-Manuel Miranda opted out of the sequel, he has at last disclosed his reasons.

He clarified that it wasn’t as he had described earlier. “I received the script for Mufasa right after I completed Encanto,” he said. “So, I began working on that at the start of 2022. Consequently, Moana 2 was already in development as a TV series with Emily [Bear] and Abigail [Barlow]. Then, when they decided to transform it into a film, the project was already underway.

Lin-Manuel Miranda spoke highly of Bear and Barlow’s music, describing them as extremely gifted individuals. Additionally, he admired Auli’i Cravalho, who at only 14 years old, shone brightly in the initial film production.

What’s truly exciting is that we recruited Auli’i at only 14 years old, and the challenging technical aspects of her singing in this latest movie are astounding. Witnessing her growth as a performer since then is simply remarkable,” he added.

Online, Moana 2 has been criticized for its music, but it doesn’t live up to the negativity portrayed. While it may not reach the quality of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s work, it’s still acceptable – considering it’s a sequel.>

Regarding the response to the music in Moana 2, Barlow stated: “Wait for about a month, and you’ll find that children everywhere are humming its tunes, and you might even grow weary of them.

Ain’t that the truth.

Read More

2024-12-11 23:57

Previous post Agent Tyler Booth is sticking around in FBI: International and here’s how