Lin-Manuel Mirandahas heard the criticism before.
And like a certain North Carolina basketball player, Miranda chose to take that personally.
Hes like an Indiana Jones Nazi!
[Laughs] Hes a great villain!
Lets lean into it.
But the tune has a real purpose in Mirandas mind other than to get that voice purring rhymes.
Its pretty much the best way to do a heel turn for a Disney villain.
Miranda even notes the similarities to his previous Disney villain song, which also had a dark sardonic streak.
It was similar to when I was writing Shiny forMoana, Miranda explains.
The outside is the only thing that matters!
So its really about having just a really strong opposing force.
In fact, hes not even called Scar for most of the picture.
I think no ones a villain without having a heart, Harrison tells us in a separate interview.
So my job was to figure out where all the arrows were pointing to.
Theres an arrow pointed at Sarabi.
For Harrison its a chance to dabble in legacy, complete with eventually some Jeremy Irons-like flourishes.
I study James Earl Jones, period, Pierre tells us.
Whether it be his extensive filmography or his extensive work in the theater, or his voice work.
He is a guiding light for me and my artistry, point blank.
I didnt have it all figured out, and I was searching for answers to questions.
So hopefully I served him, and hopefully I served his character.
If you gave me and Elton and Tim the same assignment, wed write totally different things.
We cant help it, its just how it comes out of us.
Were more filters than anything else.
Its his voice, his musical harmonies.
So when I was writing, I just made a lot of space for that.
I want to jump into the pool.
