Editorial Staff
Oscar winner Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”, “If Beale Street Could Talk”) will direct a prequel to Disney’s 2019 blockbuster “The Lion King”.
Jeff Nathanson, who scripted the Jon Favreau-directed original, has completed a draft.
Per Deadline, the film will continue with the photo-realistic technology that Favreau used in the 2019 film and 2016’s “The Jungle Book”.
With “The Lion King” topping $1.6 bllion worldwide, the prequel is a top priority for Disney.
Says the trade :
They are keeping the logline under wraps, but I’m told that the story will further explore the mythology of the characters, including Mufasa’s origin story. Moving the story forward while looking back conjures memories of The Godfather: Part II, set on the African plain with a continuation of the tradition of music that was a key part of the 1994 animated classic, the 2019 film and the blockbuster Broadway stage transfer
“Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters,” Jenkins said. “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.”
