'Lion King' follow-up to be helmed by 'Moonlight' director Barry Jenkins

After the 2019 film 'The Lion King' grossed more than US$1.6bil worldwide, a sequel was perhaps always likely. Photo: Disney Enterprises

The Walt Disney Co. will make a follow-up to the 2019 live-action The Lion King, with Barry Jenkins, the director of the Oscar-winning Moonlight set to direct.

Disney announced plans on Tuesday (Sept 29) for a kind of prequel to last year's poorly reviewed but highly popular photorealistic remake.