Live-Action Lion King Movie Axing One Iconic Song

The two most important songs in a Disney movie are the “I Want” song and the “Villain” song. Without them, you can have a good movie, but with them, you can have a great movie. Even in some of the weaker Disney flicks, a good villain song can be memorable. (“Friends on the Other Side,” anyone?) Some of the best songs in Disney movies are the baddie songs and without a doubt, the unholy trinity of Disney songs are “Be Prepared” “Hellfire” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Alas, the live-action Lion King movie will be forsaking its crowning glory.

According to Polygon, Elton John, who worked on the original soundtrack with Tim Rice, told British publication The Sun the following:

“There’s going to be four of our songs in the film, from the original: ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight?’ ‘Hakuna Matata,’ ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,’ and ‘Circle of Life’,” John said. “And then there will be an end, closing song, and we’ve been speaking to Beyoncé’s people and hopefully Tim and I and her can cook up something. That’s going out in 2019 as well. And it will be great to work with her. So we will see.”

Um, can Beyoncé sing “Be Prepared?”

I know this is blasphemy but I would gladly scrap “Hakuna Matata” for “Be Prepared.” I mean Scar is such a fantastic, fabulous villain and this song allows him to revel in his Shakespearian superiority. “Hakuna Matata” is a fun song, I jam to it on the treadmill, but it is pretty much a montage song.

Apparently, “Be Prepared” is not “as widely recognized” as the other songs from the movie, but I call shenanigans. Scar is one of the most memorable villains in Disney canon and the visual elements of the song, the green smoke the way it builds and builds. If this is about the goose-stepping hyenas, we can get rid of them!

Also, fun fact: Jeremy Iron’s voice gave out during the recording so parts of it are sung by Jim Cummings and he’s so talented you can’t tell.

So what do you think? Are you also disappointed that we are being denied hearing Chiwetel Ejiofor croon out “Be Prepared?” What are some of your favorite Disney soundtracks/songs?

(via Polygon, image: Disney)

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