Billy Eichner emailed Nathan Lane for blessing about The Lion King casting

Funnyman Billy Eichner emailed Nathan Lane as soon as he learned he’d landed a role in The Lion King remake, to get the Broadway veteran’s blessing.
Lane voiced meerkat Timon in Disney’s original film and when Eichner received news he’d be playing the role in Jon Favreau’s live-action revamp, the actor was one of the first people he called.
“I know Nathan, I’ve loved him since I was a kid and I emailed him and I said, ‘Look, I can’t do what you did, but I want your blessing. I’ll do my best’,” Billy tells Good Morning America. “He said, ‘What are you going to do next? The Birdcage with Ryan Gosling?'”
Lane starred in The Birdcage, opposite the late Robin Williams.
“He was hilarious, he’s been lovely.” Billy adds. “He just emailed me again two days ago to say congratulations that the movie’s opening. He’s so nice.”
The film is a true full circle moment for Eichner, who was a bartender in New York when The Lion King opened on Broadway.
“When I was a struggling actor in New York in 2002 I was a bartender at The Lion King on Broadway,” he explains.