Barry Jenkins to direct Disney’s live-action ‘Lion King’ follow up

The Oscar-winning director of 'Moonlight' and 'If Beale Street Could Talk' will take the reigns of a follow-up to their 2016 live-action version of 'The Lion King'

Cortney Wills

Sep 29, 2020

One of our favorite directors has been tapped to helm a new project from Disney and we can’t wait to see what Barry Jenkins does with the project.

The Oscar-winning director of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk will take the reigns of a follow-up to their 2016 live-action version of The Lion King.

According to Deadline, the new film will be penned by Jeff Nathanson, who scripted the last film that starred tons of famous faces, including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Beyonce among others, as the voices of the beloved characters.

The film will reportedly explore the mythology of the characters, including Mufasa’s origin story.

Jenkins’ PASTEL partners Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak are expected to sign on as producers for the currently untitled project.

LA Dance Project's 2019 Fundraising Gala — Barry Jenkins attends LA Dance Project’s 2019 Fundraising Gala on October 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for L.A. Dance Project)

“Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters,” Jenkins told Deadline. “Having the opportunity to work with Disney on expanding this magnificent tale of friendship, love and legacy while furthering my work chronicling the lives and souls of folk within the African diaspora is a dream come true.”

Considering the success of the original animated film as well as the live-action version, we’re expecting big things. No word on whether the all-star cast that included James Earl Jones, Beyonce, Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Keegan-Michael Key, and Shahidi Wright Joseph, will return for the film but our fingers are crossed.

Given the fact that the last Lion King film also ushered in an album, The Lion King: The Gift, from Beyonce AND led to her incredible film, Black Is King, we have high hopes for what’s in store.

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