With the "Lion King" remake breaking records, Buzzfeed has put together a list of 20 interesting facts about the original, which came out in 1994.
For instance:
1. Sean Connery was Disney's first choice to play Mufasa. James Earl Jones ended up with the role . . . both in the original AND the new version.
2. Disney originally wanted Patrick Stewart or someone from "Monty Python" for the role of Zazu, the hornbill. Rowan Atkinson ended up with it. John Oliver plays Zazu in the new movie.
3. The opening lyrics: Quote, "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba . . . Sithi uhm ingonyama . . . " from "Circle of Life" literally translate to "There comes a lion, father . . . Oh yes, it's a lion." The opening is sung in Zulu.
4. Tim Rice co-wrote the lyrics for the movie's songs, and he originally wanted ABBA to be on the soundtrack. When ABBA declined, he asked Elton John.
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" was the FIRST song Rice and Elton completed. It was also originally supposed to be sung only by Timon and Pumbaa. According to Ernie Sabella, who voiced Pumbaa, Elton was NOT happy that they were using the ballad as a parody, so it was reworked.
7. There are no real lion roars used in the movie, they were all done by voice actor Frank Welker, who created them by growling into a metal garbage can. (Here's video.)
8. Real lions were brought into the studio so animators could study them for inspiration.
9. Nathan Lane (Timon) and Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa) originally auditioned for the roles of the hyenas, Banzai and Shenzi. Timon and Pumbaa were originally not in the movie. In an earlier draft, Simba never runs off, and is instead raised by Scar, even after Scar kills Mufasa.
10. "The Lion King" is the best-selling VHS tape of all time.
Full list of 20 Here - https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/20-facts-about-the-original-the-lion-king-that-you-probably