In one of the most surprising bits of news in months, Oscar-winning “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” helmer Barry Jenkins will direct a prequel to last year’s live-action adaptation of “The Lion King” at Disney Pictures.
The plan is to further explore the mythology of the characters and include Mufasa’s origin story, but also move the story forward. No plot details are available though sounds like it could be like “The Godfather: Part II” with jumps between events both long before and soon after that in the first film.
Jon Favreau directed last year’s remake of the 1994 animated classic using innovative techniques to create photorealistic animals and African landscapes. Despite a critical drubbing, the film earned $1.65 billion globally for Disney.
Jenkins in a statement says: “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.”
Jeff Nathanson (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”) has penned a draft of the prequel. Jenkins most recently wrapped filming on the Amazon limited series “The Underground Railroad”.
Source: Heat Vision
