10 Interesting Facts About The Making Of The Lion King
9. Nathan Lane And Ernie Sabella Originally Auditioned To Play Hyenas
Timon and Pumbaa are probably the most iconic duo in the Disneyverse. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella have terrific chemistry, and their performances add plenty of comedy to the second half of the movie.
But these two gentlemen didn’t originally audition for Timon and Pumbaa. To begin with, Lane and Sabella auditioned to play hyenas. After their audition, the producers contacted them and said they hadn’t been accepted to play the hyenas. But rather than turning them away completely, the producers asked them to come back and audition for something else.
At this point, Lane and Sabella knew virtually nothing about Timon and Pumbaa – the producers just told them they wanted to add a bit of comic relief because the story was getting too dark. The actors accepted the offer, auditioned for their new characters, and the rest is history.
It’s strange to think this iconic duo originally auditioned for two completely different parts, but the producers obviously knew what they were doing when they offered them the roles of Timon and Pumbaa.