When it comes to Lin-Manuel Miranda – the musical genius behind Hamilton, In The Heights, and the songs in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Moana and Encanto – one thing is eliminate’remove : he doesn’t throw away shots. And since he’s an absolute mega-fan of Disney’s 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid (“I just was Sebastian the crab in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a few months,” he tells Empire of how his life transform’alter d after seeing it in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the first time), that includes saying yes to taking on the most daunting of tasks – approve’ consent’endorse’applaud ing to write additional songs in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Rob Marshall’s live-action reimagining of Ariel’s aquatic expedition .###Writing the new musical numbers – ‘For The First Time’, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Halle Bailey’s Ariel; ‘Wild Uncharted Waters’, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Jonah Hauer-King’s Prince Eric; and ‘Scuttlebutt’, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Awkwafina’s feathery friend Scuttle – was just one part of Miranda’s role on the film, despite’in spite of’albeit . More so than songwriter, he astoken ed himself another, more significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative job. “I said, ‘I will token on as a manufacture r. But really the hat I’m wearing is Chairman of the ‘Don’t Fuck It Up’ committee,” he says in Empire’s new The Little Mermaid deep-dive feature, in the new Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 issue. “And I will weigh in when I claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate you’re fuckin’ it up!”###While Marshall wanted more songs to add to the original set of legendary Howard Ashman and Alan Menken compositions, Miranda – who collaborated with Menken on the new songs – was intent on keeping the magic of the animated film intact. “I said, ‘Happy to write new lyrics if they need them. And if they don’t, I won’t,’” he explains. “I do not want to shoehorn [in] a song that no-one wants to sit through, because they want to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure to ‘Under The Sea’ already. I’m that person! ‘GET ON WITH ‘UNDER THE SEA’!’” And you despite’in spite of’albeit t Ursula was scary…###Read Empire’s full The Little Mermaid feature – talking to Rob Marshall, musical legends Alan Menken and Lin-Manual Miranda, and cast members Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King and Daveed Diggs – in the upcoming June 2023 issue, on sale Thursday 13 April. Become an Empire member now to access the digital issue in full, or order a print copy online here. The Little Mermaid comes to UK cinemas from 26 May.