Tag Archives: Moana

Disney Releases the Miranda-Penned Single “How Far I’ll Go” from the Upcoming Film “Moana”

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Lin-Manuel Miranda is going far…

Disney has released “How Far I’ll Go,” a track penned by the 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer, rapper and writer for the upcoming movie Moana.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Alessia Cara provides the vocals on the track.

A bouncy, uplifting tune follows Moana‘s plot of a young girl who sets out on a journey to a fabled island to save her people (“If the wind on my sail on the sea stays behind me/ One day I’ll know, if I go, there’s just no telling how far I’ll go”).

The song can be heard in the film twice, with Auli’i Cravalho — the voice of protagonist Moana — singing the track during the film, and Cara’s version playing during the credits.

Moana will feature another song written by Miranda, “You’re Welcome,” which is sung by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The film opens in theaters on November 23, but the soundtrack will be available on November 18.

Miranda In Talks to Join Walt Disney Studios’ “Mary Poppins” Sequel

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Lin-Manuel Miranda may be ready for a little Chim Chim Cher-ee.

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican composer, lyricist, rapper and actor, best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, is in talks to join the Walt Disney Studios’ planned sequel to Mary Poppins. Emily Blunt is in talks for the lead role, played by Julie Andrews in the 1964 film.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Disney had no comment, but a source with knowledge of the project says the untitled film will connect with Mary’s charges, Jane and Michael Banks, now grown and with Michael’s own three kids in need of a nanny. Mary and her “lamplighter” friend Jack — kin to Bert the chimney sweep played by Dick Van Dyke opposite Andrews in the film — help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing from their lives.

Miranda’s Disney ties already include the bar scene music for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the score for the animated film Moana, coming in November.

According to the source, the new film will be set in Depression-era London and include material drawn from the seven Mary Poppins books writer P.L. Travers’ published between 1935 and 1988 following the initial novel.

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman will be composing original songs and an all-new score. David Magee is attached to write the screenplay. Rob Marshall is attached to direct.

Disney and Marshall are working with the Travers estate, and Mary Poppins composer Richard Sherman is reputedly aware and supportive of the project. Word of the talks first appeared earlier today in Variety.

Miranda Contributes Cantina Music for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

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The Force has awakened Lin-Manuel Miranda…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actor, composer and writer, currently earning raves on Broadway for his latest award-winning musical, Hamilton, has partnered with Star Wars’ latest direct J.J. Abrams to make some music.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Theater and sci-fi geeks alike freaked when Abrams let the news slip on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (Nov. 30), revealing that Miranda will be lending his talents to new cantina music for Episode VII, aka Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“I go to see [Hamilton] with our son and at intermission, Lin-Manuel Miranda comes up to me and says, ‘Hey if you need music for the [Star Wars] Cantina, I’ll write it,” recalls Abrams. He notes that composer John Williams, who helmed the original cantina scene in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, declined to tackle the task this go-round.

Miranda, who’s Hamilton is currently dominating Broadway — and the Billboard charts — with its R&B, pop and rap-influenced take on the story of Alexander Hamilton, described the process via Twitter.

“We did. Worked on it between 6pm & 7:30 on 2 show days for the past 2 months. JJ is the best. Can’t wait to see,” tweeted the In The Heights creator to his followers.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters in three weeks (opening December18).

Miranda is responsible for Disney’s upcoming animated film Moana. His other composing credits include The Electric Company and Sesame Street.

Miranda to Write Music for Walt Disney Animation’s “Moana”

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Lin-Manuel Miranda is has the write stuff for Walt Disney…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican composer, rapper, lyricist, and actor has signed on to write music for Moana, an upcoming project from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The announcement was made at The Official Disney Fan Club‘s D23 EXPO 2015 in Anaheim with Dwayne Johnson, who will be starring in the film as the mighty demi-god Maui, on hand.

Miranda, who has been teasing the announcement on social media, also shared the news via a video Tweet.

Moana follows “a spirited teenager who sets out to prove herself a master wayfinder,” according to press materials.

The film will also feature the talents of Grammy-winning composer Mark Mancina (The Lion King) and Opetaia Foa’i (founder and lead singer of the world music award-winning band Te Vaka).

According to Miranda, the trio have been collaborating for over a year and a half.

Moana is set to open in theaters on November 23, 2016.

Directors John Musker and Ron Clements will helm the film with Osnat Shurer producing.

Miranda, a Tony and Grammy award winner, recently received Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Critics Circle Awards for Hamilton, which is currently running at the Richard Rodgers Theatre after an engagement at the Public Theater.

He’s a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his musical In the Heights, and is also the coauthor of Bring it On: The Musical.

Miranda received a Primetime Emmy Award for his opening number for the 67th Annual Tony Awards, written with Tom Kitt.