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The Lion King 2: Sequel reportedly in the works with Moonlight's Barry Jenkins directing

Director Barry Jenkins, who won an Oscar for his work on 2017's Moonlight, has reportedly been signed up by the Walt Disney Studios to helm a sequel to last year's Lion King, itself a remake of the much-loved 1994 animation.

As Deadline reports, the new film will be made in much the same spirit as its predecessor, with writer Jeff Nathanson returning to work up the script and the photo-realistic visuals kept. The hyper-detailed CGI was so convincing last time around that the Standard's David Sexton wrote in his review: "It could easily fool you into believing you are watching real natural history, if that’s what was wanted."

While no release date has been touted for the new release, it's thought Disney will be keen to capitalise on the success of 2019's release, which raked in £1.25 billion across the globe.

Though few details are known and the film is said to be a sequel, it will also look backwards, with an exploration of Mufasa’s past.

“Helping my sister raise two young boys during the 90s, I grew up with these characters,” Jenkins told Deadline. “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.”

Casting has yet to be confirmed; last year's smash featured an A-list roster of actors and musicians, including Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Earl Jones, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key and Seth Rogan, among others.

The news marks a blossoming relationship between Jenkins and Disney; besides Lion King, the director is also working on a biography of the American dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, which will be released on Searchlight Pictures, a division of the broader Walt Disney company.

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