It looks like we'll be learning a lot more about Mufasa's adventures before he became king of the Pride Lands.
According to Deadline, a "live-action" Lion King sequel is now in the works. While plot details are still unknown, it's already been reported that the story will include Mufasa's origin story and "explore the mythology of the characters."
Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins, who's best known for his work on Moonlight, is set to direct the film. Casting details haven't been released yet, but screenwriter Jeff Nathanson (who penned the script for the first film) has reportedly finished a draft. Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak are also rumored to be joining the project as producers.
In a recent statement, after he confirmed the news on Twitter, Jenkins 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."
The first "live-action" movie, which was released in 2019, grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film of all time. The famous remake was directed by Jon Favreau and also featured a star-studded cast, from Beyoncé and Donald Glover to Seth Rogen and James Earl Jones.
The movie's follow-up will most likely be released in 2022 and it's just one of many upcoming live-action remakes, including Cruella and Peter Pan. We may not know much about this sequel (yet), but until then, we'll be patiently awaiting all the details.
