Brian Snedeker
Plot
This sequel will tell the story of how Timon and Pumbaa got together.
Notes
February 8, 2003
Tidbits on The Lion King 1 1/2: Hakuna Matata
Although earlier reports indicated that Lebo M. would be returning to
do the songs for the prequel/midquel, S&SM has listed that the movie
will have music by Martin Erskine and lyrics by Seth Friedman. The
site also reports that a song called "Digga Tunnah" was written for
the movie. According to the latest rumors, validated by IMDB, Shaun
Flemming (Teacher's Pet) will replace Matt Weinberg as the voice of
young Simba.
October 4, 2002
Lion King Midquel To Get Theatrical Release?
According to Animagic, Disney is planning to release The Lion King 1 1/2: Hakuna Matata, as a theatrical feature instead of straight-to-video. The project is expected to start production in Australia this month.
September 22, 2002
The Sydney studio, which Disney took over in 1988, has mostly made
direct-to-video sequels. Its only previous cinema release was the
Peter Pan sequel Return to Neverland. Once the new Jungle Book is
delivered, the studio will concentrate on The Lion King 1 1/2, which
tells the Lion King story from the comical perspective of Timon the
meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. Rather than a sequel or prequel, this
one is being called an "interquel".
September 17, 2002 from Jim Hill Media (www.jimhillmedia.com)
One of the very best--and most reliable--animation reporters out there,
Jim Hill dropped the following informative note to Animated Movies: "Yep,
strange as it may sound, Lion King 1 1/2 : Hakuna Matata *IS* the title
of the next direct-to-video sequel to The Lion King. At least for now.
This new Disney Television Animation project will be set (mostly)
during that time period when young Simba was away from the Pridelands.
When he was living with Timon & Pumbaa. So expect this film (which will
be mostly told in flashback) to reveal how Timon and Pumbaa actually got
together as well as show some of the adventures that young Simba had with
these two, etc. So what's the real high point of this direct-to-video
project? Disney animation fans are finally going to get to see a fully
animated version of "Warthog Rhapsody" (Tim Rice & Elton John's first
stab at trying to write a comic song for Timon & Pumbaa). Ernie Sarbella
gives an absolutely killer vocal performance as Pumbaa in this song. As
does Nathan Lane as Timon. The downside of the project?... The Lion King
1 1/2 : Hakuna Matata's story is a bit on the thin side. Not as thin as--
perhaps-- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. But still pretty
slight. The upside?... Animation on this project is being done by Disney
Television Animation Australia. The very best of Disney's direct-to-video
operations. (Why are they the best? Well, the Australians actually *GET*
the American sense of humor. So no one has to laboriously explain to the
animators there how to properly time out a scene in order to get a laugh
back stateside. Too bad that we can't say the same about Disney Television
Animation Japan. Disney is constantly sending sequences back to that studio
& its satellites to get reworked because the animators there didn't
understand a storyboard and--as a result--blew the staging and/or timing
of a gag in the movie)." Thanks Jim!
August 22, 2002 from Video Premiere Awards
Disney's "inter-quel" Lion King 1½ (the new title of The Lion King 3)
won't arrive until at least 2004, which had been earlier reported as
Christmas of 2003.
June 8, 2002 Exclusive from Disney Animation Archive
On Disney Cruise Line's first trip in the Western Carribean. Ernie Sabella
(voice of Pumbaa) was a special guest. He signed autographs and was interviewed
in the theatre onboard the ship. He talked about the upcoming Lion King movie
where Timon and Pumbaa meet. He says that the writers are the same as those
from the original and that the original cast will be providing the voices once
again. He wanted footage to be shown but said the company didn't want to show
any of the movie yet.
April 2, 2002 from Video Premiere Awards
Nathan Lane returns as the voice of Timon in The Lion King III, which will also
feature new songs from Grammy-winning composer Lebo M. and "Warthog Rhapsody,"
which was written by Elton John and Tim Rice for the original Lion King but
never used.
From March 31, 2001 In Cinemas
Ian Harrowel went on to reveal that he is currently working on "a movie starring Timon
and Pumbaa, currently called Lion King One and a Half." It was previously called Timon
& Pumba.
From December 4, 2001 LA Times
It could be coming A Lion King 3 Various news sources have obliquely referred
to TLK3 as being on schedule for a release in the not-too-distant future...
Actor Ernie Sabella, who will resume his role as the voice of Pumbaa in Disney's
upcoming movie "Lion King III," and his wife, Cheryl, have purchased a home in
Del Webb's Sun City Anthem community for slightly less than $300,000.
Ernie Sabella describes the video as due to be out around Christmas-- though which
Christmas is not clear. (Christmas 2002/2003 would be a possibility).
The Lion King III" and bonus tracks for the upcoming DVD version of "The Lion King."
He was in a number of Broadway shows before playing Pumbaa the warthog to Nathan
Lane's Timon the meerkat in "The Lion King." Sabella also appeared with Lane in
the movie "Mouse Hunt" (1997). "The Lion King III" is due out about Christmas.
From www.lionking.org:
"May 4, 2001
Word from Disney execs and their families is that
Disney is responding to a severe falloff in animated
movie revenue by scaling back its production teams
and striking a number of projects from the drawing
boards. It's been strongly suggested that TLK3 is
one of those axed projects."
From www.lionking.org:
"April 24, 2001
It has been rumored that TLK3 at least three video
releases away. Word from "the inside" (the TV
Animation unit responsible for TLK2) is that TLK3 is
indeed in the works, but that Peter Pan 2 is the current
project, to be followed by The Jungle Book 2. After that,
TLK3 is either first or second in line for production.
Of course this means no work has even begun on the project,
and also that its quality will likely be relegated to that
of what can only be an uninspiring series of
milk-it-for-all-it's-worth sequels"
As of March 2001, story still being developed
From www.lionking.org:
"April 17, 2000
Submitted by Greg Ludwick
"Video" weekly industry
trade news magazine
Lion King could roar again
by Scott Hettrick and Charle Lyons
A second sequel to the best-selling video of all time
(It's still got Titanic beat.) and a follow-up to the
best-selling made-for-video title of all time, is
being considered by Buena Vista Home Entertainment
and parent The Walt Disney Studios.
Two first-time writers, Jeff Ahlholm and Colin
Goldman, have been hired to write a script for
"The Lion King III" along with in-house Disney
writer Tom Rogers, under Disney animation execs
Sharon Morrill and Brian Snedeker, according
to Daily Variety."
From www.lionking.org:
"April 13, 2000
Submitted by Nordic Aurora
CTV NewsNet, Canada
This video clip confirms the existence of
the third Lion King movie, and its status
("being written"). It also mentions a
target release date of Christmas 2001."
From www.lionking.org:
"April 12, 2000
Submitted by Christian Ziebarth
Cinescape Online
Walt Disney has picked scribes Jeff Ahlholm and
Colin Goldman to write the script for Lion King
3, a direct-to-video production. According to
Variety, Tom Rogers will also be contributing
to the film's script. Plans are to complete
production on the pic in time to hit video
stores sometime next year."
