The highly acclaimed Disney movie, The Lion King 2, is now in development at Walt Disney Studios. Significantly, the director of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins, will direct the movie.
Talks about the development of The Lion King 2 have been present for some time now. But it’s only recently that Disney made the official announcement. The original movie, which aired in the 1990s, became a massive box office hit. Thus, looking at the opportunity, there’s no doubt that Disney will ultimately go into the direction of producing a sequel.
The Lion King follows the story of Simba, heir to Mufasa’s throne in the Pride Rock. However, Simba’s uncle, Scar, plots for Mufasa and Simba’s demise luring them both in a wildebeest stampede. However, Mufasa saves Simba, and the young heir was able to escape. After years of hiding, Simba returns to the pride land to claim his rights to the throne. But before he can do that, he must first challenge his uncle, who is now reigning as the king.
Barry Jenkins to direct the movie
Barry Jenkins is known for his films, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. He won the Oscar for scripting the Moonlight. Thus, he is surely the best candidate to develop the sequel.
View this post on InstagramIt is time… #TheLionKing is now streaming on #DisneyPlus.
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Talking to Deadline, Jenkins shares his excitement to work on the project. He said:
“Helping my sister raise two young boys during the ’90s, I grew up with these characters. 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.”
On a side note, Jenkins’ PASTEL partners, Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak, are also on board as producers of the follow-up movie.
“The Lion King 2” will follow the 2019 version
The sequel will be a continuation of the 2019 photorealistic remake rather than the original 1994 animated version. Jon Favreau, who directed the remake, generated $1.5 billion at the global box office.
The king comes home. #TheLionKing is now streaming on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/PYVyoRhogH
— The Lion King (@disneylionking) February 1, 2020
On the other hand, Disney has already rebooted its popular classics, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Dumbo. Moreover, it is also reported that Aladdin is getting a sequel as well. Hence, The Lion King 2 is just one of the list that’s already in the works.
Plot and release date details
The new movie is, reportedly, based on the early life of Mufasa. However, there is no adequate information yet on what the plot is about. As of the moment, Disney has not revealed the release date yet. With Covid-19 still looming globally, it’s still unclear when the production would start.
Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios/YouTube Screenshot