The Walt Disney Company is all set to make a follow-up to the 2019 live-action The Lion King, with Barry Jenkins, the director of the Oscar-winning Moonlight and the James Baldwin adaptation If Beale Street Could Talk, as the director.

According to Deadline, Jeff Nathanson, who worked on the Jon Favreau-directed film last year, has penned a draft of the sequel. The Lion King, a remake of the 1994 animated classic, used innovative techniques to create photorealistic animals and African landscapes. 

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Barry said he is looking forward to The Lion King sequel. "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," Barry said.

The star-studded voice cast of the original Hollywood version included Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles, Seth Rogen, Alfre Woodard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John Kani and John Oliver. Actor James Earl Jones had reprised his role of Mufasa from the original. 

(Source: Deadline)