Today, it was announced by Varitey that director Barry Jenkins would be taking over as director of Disney’s The Lion King sequel. This comes as an unusual choice of to helm a big-budget tentpole film after the director helmed Oscar-caliber films like Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk; as well as next years The Underground Railroad. Moonlight was the film that “accidentally” lost the Oscar for Best Picture to La La Land before a correction was made live on television. Jenkins also was nominated for Best Director for Moonlight and won Best Adapted Screenplay alongside screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Never-the-less, Jenkins will be taking over from The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau. The upcoming sequel to The Lion King is expected to be a pseudo-sequel and not a direct adaptation of Disney’s Direct-2-DVD animated sequel Simba’s Pride. The film will use flashbacks as well as flashforwards to see how young Scar lost to Mufassa in combat. Screenwriter Jeff Nathanson is set to return on the sequel.
The Lion King 2 has no set release date
This.
Yes, THIS??
‘The Lion King’ Sequel Set With ‘Moonlight’ Director Barry Jenkins To Helm For Walt Disney Studios https://t.co/Ev7Obi8Km8 via @Deadline
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) September 29, 2020
