Hans Zimmer Reveals the Moment That Changed 'The Lion King' Forever [Exclusive]

Hans Zimmer says he never wanted to score Disney’s The Lion King at first, but agreed after a promise that his six-year-old daughter could attend one of his premieres. The project became far more personal once Zimmer reached the scene involving Mufasa’s death. He linked the emotional weight of that moment to his own childhood, saying his father died when he was six, and that he hadn’t dealt with the loss. Zimmer also recalled being told the film would “never become a musical,” only to watch it evolve anyway—both on stage and in major awards success.