We may have to change the name of that signature song to “Huh huh huh-kuna matata.” Seth Rogen, known among many things for his signature deep laugh, and Billy Eichner, of Parks and Recreation/Billy on the Street fame, are, according to The Wrap, in final negotiations to voice the comic-relief warthog and meerkat in Jon Favreau‘s photo-realistic update of The Lion King. (It feels odd calling it “live-action” when all the animals will likely be CG.) While Favreau didn’t use motion-capture for the animals in his remake of The Jungle Book, he did use visual references that included real animals and videos of the actors’ performances, so it’s safe to say you might see some resemblance to the stars in the final rendering, however subtle.
Timon and Pumbaa were originally voiced by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella. The ubiquitous Lane has at times been replaced by Kevin Schon and Bruce Lanoil in subsequent sequels and spin-offs; Sabella has continued to play Pumbaa in most media to this day, save one Disney skating video game for which Leslie Hedger did the honors. Together, they helped turn “Hakuna Matata” into both an earworm of a song and a national catchphrase that is inevitably the first Swahili phrase learned by many children.
Nerdist has reached out to Disney for confirmation, but they do not comment on casting rumors. We figure if Seth Rogen can make a talking sausage compelling, a lovable warthog is no problem.
With Donald Glover as Simba, and James Earl Jones returning as Mufasa, the Pride Lands are slowly filling up. Who would you like to see join this circle of onscreen animal life? Comment below with your best suggestions.
Images: Disney
