The real reason the Pumbaa actor was terrified Disney would kick him out of The Lion King 1994

A new Disney prequel is on the horizon, Mufasa: The Lion King It surprised many when it was first announced. Fans of the original 1994 animated film felt that a prequel was unnecessary, but the news got many others excited to reunite with the beloved animals of the Pride Lands.

However, a mystery has surrounded the prequel since it was announced and that was Pumbaa’s participation in the cast. Since the story follows a young Mufasa, viewers don’t understand what role the boar could play in it. But fans would be surprised to know that even in The Lion KingThe role of Pumbaa was a much-needed surprise, something that voice actor Ernie Sabella was worried wouldn’t make it into the final script.

The importance of the only Disney character who farts

The Lion King It was the studio’s masterpiece, a film that changed the course of animation and skyrocketed Disney’s popularity. The characters from the 1994 film became a central childhood memory for an entire generation and will soon return in another avatar.

Barry Jenkins is tasked with directing the live-action musical Mufasa: The Lion Kingadapted from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. The upcoming movie is supposed to follow the journey of Simba’s father (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and the famous antagonist Taka, also known as Scar (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.).

However, it will also feature the ragtag trio of Pumbaa (voiced by Seth Rogen), Timon (voiced by Billy Eichner) and Simba (voiced by Donald Glover). The news of Pumbaa and Timon’s integration into the new story puzzled many, as people thought they had little to no role to play in Mufasa’s backstory.

But the flatulent boar is an important figure to the franchise, and especially to the original film. The 1994 film’s voice actor Ernie Sabella revealed in an interview that he and Nathan Lane (Timon’s voice actor) were initially called to audition for the role of hyenas (via HuffPost).

In a twist of fate, the filmmakers changed the entire plot of the film and created new characters based on a single audition. This is how Simba’s eccentric and fun companions were born (or drawn).

The uncertain characters: will they do it or not?

Although the duo were the most iconic characters in the film, Sabella was unsure of their participation. The actor confessed that he was worried that they would be removed from the film and replaced with more famous actors to play their roles (via News Week).

The couple’s undeniable chemistry and visible Broadway talent forced the filmmakers to create characters, especially for them, but the script was not delivered. He Perfect strangers The actor also revealed that the cause of his initial concern was the lack of final confirmation because he did not know the plot.

Fortunately he decided to trust the profitable animation studio and Jeffrey Katzenberg and continued with his role. Their comedic timing and Sabella’s natural chemistry with Lane created magic on screen and became fan favorites among all citizens of the Pride Lands.

Mufasa: The Lion King Its launch is scheduled for December 20, 2024.

The Lion King It is currently available to watch on Disney+.