Elton John says Disney’s Lion King remake was a 'huge disappointment'

17 October 2019, 09:26

Sir Elton John has revealed he was not impressed with Disney’s 2019 remake of The Lion King, despite being involved in the project.

The 72-year-old singer was heavily involved in the original 1994 animated film, composing and performing songs for the movie.

However, he has called the remake a "huge disappointment" and even believes they "messed the music up".

Catch up on Elton John's exclusive interview with Smooth Radio

Elton helped with the remake and returned to the studio to help adapt classic hits such as 'Circle Of Life' and 'Hakuna Matata' and even attended the red carpet premiere.

He told British GQ: "Music was so much a part of the original and the music in the current film didn’t have the same impact. The magic and joy were lost."

Elton noted how the soundtrack missed the mark and had a lack of commercial impact.

He continued: "The soundtrack hasn’t had nearly the same impact on the charts that it had 25 years ago, when it was the best-selling album of the year.

"The new soundtrack fell out of the charts so quickly, despite the massive box-office success.

"I wish I’d been invited to the party more, but the creative vision for the film and its music was different this time around and I wasn’t really welcomed or treated with the same level of respect. That makes me extremely sad."

However, the singer said that he was glad that the "right spirit" continues to "live on with the Lion King stage musical" - which he wrote.