Barry Jenkins decided to direct Jenkins would be helming a prequel to 2019's smash hit live adaptation of The Lion King. That film grossed over $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, one of Disney's most successful live action remakes yet. That film starred Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, and Billy Eichner.
Jenkins shot to the top of the list of most sought after directors in Hollywood after his one-two punch of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. Moonlight went all the way at the 2017 Academy Awards, winning Best Picture in one of the most stunning moments in Oscars history. If Beale Street Could Talk found similar success. The adaptation of James Baldwin's novel of the same name saw the director return to the Academy Awards in 2019 with a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Regina King won a Best ing Actress trophy for that film.
The Lion King 2 may be a surprising choice for the director's next film, but Jenkins says he was so impressed with the script that he couldn't it up. In a conversation with fellow acclaimed director Chloe Zhao, whose next film is Marvel's Eternals, Jenkins revealed to Variety that, while reading the script, he turned to his partner Lulu Wang (The Farewell) and expressed his excitement. As he delved further into the script, he decided to push against the notion that a filmmaker like himself typically doesn't make movies like The Lion King. He went to Disney with one caveat: he had to have some semblance of creative control.
I read the script and about 40 pages in, I turned to Lulu [Wang] and I said, ‘Holy shit, this is good.’ And as I kept reading, I got further away from the side of my brain that said, ‘Oh, a filmmaker like you doesn’t make a film like this,’ and allowed myself to get to the place where these characters, this story, is amazing. What really pushed me across the line was James [Laxton], my DP, said, ‘You know what? There’s something really interesting in this mode of filmmaking that we haven’t done and that not many people have done.’ That was when I went back to the powers that be and said, ‘I would love to do this, but I’ve got to be able to do what I do.’ And they said yes!…And knowing that Chloe Zhao had gone from one of the most beautiful films of the century with The Rider to making a Marvel movie, I was like, ‘Oh, shit. If she can do it, I can do it.’
Jenkins confidence in the script should be reassuring for anyone who was worried about the prequel film. With original director Jon Favreau not returning, the sequel is still in capable hands, it seems. In addition to being an acclaimed director, Jenkins also adapted both Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk for the screen. If Jenkins was impressed with the script, then it's likely that fans will be, too. At its heart, The Lion King is an emotional story and Jenkins' devastating films know how to pull on those heartstrings.
Not much else is known about the follow-up. While it's said to be a prequel, it's also been hinted that it will follow the events of the 2019 film while simultaneously exploring Mufasa's early years. Jenkins jumping on board also proves another thing: Disney is becoming quite the courter of high profile filmmakers. The aforementioned Zhao is directing the Marvel film Eternals, Craig Gillespie is directing the Emma Stone starrer Cruella, and Wonder Woman 1984 director has a Star Wars project in the works. Jenkins' The Lion King 2 may be the most highly anticipated of the bunch, though, and could see the director go for Oscar gold again.
Source: Variety
