\n<\/p>\n
Weaver went on to co-star in the sitcom \u201cSmart Guy,\u201d<\/a> sing on Chingy\u2019s 2004 hit \u201cOne Call Away\u201d<\/a> and steadily work in film and TV. But it wasn\u2019t until the last few years, Weaver said, that he began to receive more recognition for his \u201cLion King\u201d role.<\/p>\n Disney is also keeping the fanfare around the film alive: In May, the studio filmed an anniversary concert<\/a>, featuring Weaver and some of the other original voice actors<\/a>, that will stream on Disney+. It has also announced a July theatrical rerelease<\/a> of the original film, and a new live-action prequel, \u201cMufasa: The Lion King,\u201d<\/a> will premiere in December.<\/p>\n Weaver\u2019s eyes sparkled behind thick-rimmed glasses as he spoke from Chicago, where he\u2019s currently shooting the Showtime drama \u201cThe Chi.\u201d<\/a> As an adult, Weaver said, he has a new appreciation for his part in the Disney classic.<\/p>\n These are edited excerpts from our conversation.<\/p>\n How did singing for young Simba come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n I was filming \u201cThe Jacksons\u201d mini-series, and throughout the production, there would always be big artists that stopped by the set because they were friends of the Jacksons or were just curious. On this particular day, I was singing \u201cWho\u2019s Lovin\u2019 You,\u201d and Elton John [who co-wrote \u201cThe Lion King\u201d songs with Tim Rice] stopped by. He saw me performing live and approached my mom. They wanted the Simba singing voice to have a young Michael Jackson vibe, and I was able to get an audition the day after we wrapped \u201cThe Jacksons.\u201d<\/p>\n What was the recording process like?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was simply supposed to be an audition. I was just going in to see if they would even consider me for the role. But [directors] Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers were there, and the producer Don Hahn. When I came into the Burbank recording studio, they had storyboards with basic artwork sketched in pencil showing what Simba looked like. And they said, \u201cWhen you go into the booth, we\u2019re going to have cameras set up to capture your actions because if we like what you\u2019re doing, we may put it into the character\u2019s animation.\u201d<\/p>\n When the music came on, I just felt so comfortable. There was energy in the room, and it felt good. I sang \u201cI Just Can\u2019t Wait to Be King\u201d like two times, and Roger said, \u201cWell, you got the job.\u201d I had to finish all of the recording that day because I was scheduled to come back to Chicago on a red eye. So, I also sang part of \u201cHakuna Matata,\u201d and then I did another song that never made the film called \u201cWarthog Rhapsody.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n