Theatre legend Tim Rice joins Sir Elton John and Beyonce for Lion King remake soundtrack
THE pair created one of the most memorable movie soundtracks ever for The Lion King 25 years ago.
And now SIR ELTON JOHN will be returning to the studio with theatre legend TIM RICE — as well as superstar BEYONCE — for Disney’s live-action remake.
In an exclusive interview, Elton told me: “They need to have a new end credits song.
"There’s going to be four of our songs in the film, from the original: Can You Feel The Love Tonight? Hakuna Matata, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King and Circle of Life.
“And then there will be an end, closing song, and we’ve been speaking to Beyonce’s people and hopefully Tim and I and her can cook up something.
“That’s going out in 2019 as well. And it will be great to work with her. So we will see.”
Beyonce will play Nala in the blockbuster, while DONALD GLOVER, CHIWETEL EJIOFOR and SETH ROGEN are among other stars involved.
And although it isn’t due to hit cinemas until July 19 next year, Elton revealed he has already been given a sneak peek.
He teased: “I’ve seen a little bit of the opening of it, which is amazing.
“JON FAVREAU is directing it, he did an amazing job on The Jungle Book.
“The film is going to be amazing.”
Elton will be embarking on his three-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour this September, before quitting life on the road for good.
A few extra quid from this Lion King soundtrack should pay for a few more holiday homes for his retirement.
Let's have Whit-more sex
LAURA WHITMORE wants contestants on her new ITV2 show Survival Of The Fittest to follow the lead of Love Island castmates by having sex on screen.
The presenter, whose boyfriend IAIN STIRLING voices the rival hit, wants her dating show – which starts on Sunday – to trigger a whole new batch of relationships.
She said: “I definitely want to see them go all the way. People have needs.
“If they like each other enough and care about each other then why not?”
But you won’t see Laura posing in her bikini on set as host CAROLINE FLACK did during Love Island.
She said: “I would get in a bikini if I looked like DAVINA McCALL.
“I’m obsessed with her. I like her six-pack.”
Laura’s not alone.
Lotte to drink
CHARLOTTE CROSBY has made an early bid to be my Caner of the Year.
The ex-Geordie Shore star clearly still likes to “get mortal”, judging by her antics at a Valentine’s party thrown by online fashion brand In The Style.
Other reality stars at the Libertine club included PETE WICKS, JESSICA SHEARS and BINKY FELSTEAD.
Charlotte could barely keep her new surgically enhanced breasts inside her little black dress – and had even more trouble covering her modesty as she got into her cab home.
A source said: “She was clearly having a good time and made the most of the free bar.
She was the life and soul and had to be held up by a pal as she left.”
If Charlotte keeps this up, she will have that award sewn up come April.
Hugh's boss
NOT even a 15minute performance in front of more than 100million people could rocket JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’s album to No1.
Instead it is the soundtrack for HUGH JACKMAN’s The Greatest Showman which remains unstoppable, lodging a fifth week at the top spot – and securing double the sales of Justin’s album.
It has already held off new releases from CAMILA CABELLO, CRAIG DAVID and FALL OUT BOY.
One tune from the record, This Is Me, is at No6 in the singles charts too. There is no stopping it.
UNLIKELY grime enthusiast JUDGE ROB RINDER can’t wait to showcase the music on his new C4 show, RinderLand.
The Sun columnist and telly legal eagle said: “I love female grime artists, especially LADY LESHURR and SHYSTIE, I think they’re like modern-day SYLVIA PLATHs.”
On Thursday night Rob, was out in London, hob-nobbing with ITV Daytime’s KATE GARRAWAY, BEN SHEPHARD, NADIA SAWALHA and EAMONN HOLMES, at the launch of their ex-producer Helen Warner’s book, Story Of Our Lives.
I hope there weren’t any sore heads the next day.
Spice up the show
GERI HORNER is getting into the spirit of the SPICE GIRLS reunion.
She has the time of her life singing and dancing along to their No1 tune Spice Up Your Life, on Saturday night’s episode of her brilliant new BBC1 show All Together Now, on at 7.15pm.
It’s a special treat for host ROB BECKETT, who Geri tells me she has become pals with through filming.
She said: “It was very intense with really long hours.
“But it went really quick. He’s a really nice guy, you want him to do well, he’s got that nature.
"He was like my little brother.”
Rob will be wearing a Union Jack dress in no time.
PROFESSOR GREEN and MAYA JAMA will be fronting the Brits very own red carpet coverage this year on Facebook Live.
Action will get underway at 4.30pm on Wednesday, February 21.
You can check it out at .