Disney is back in studios for the continuation of the 2019 heavy production beloved family classic, The Lion King photorealistic remake.

The production company has roped Barry Jenkins, the filmmaker behind “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” to direct the movie while Jeff Nathanson, who wrote the screenplay for the 2019 movie, is returning to write the follow-up.

Unlike the first Lion King, whose focus is primarily on Simba, sources have claimed that The Lion King 2 will partly focus on the early years of Mufasa and his rebellious brother Scar, supposedly bringing in Simba’s life after he was crowned King of the Pride Lands.

Due to COVID-19 effects on the film industry, coupled with the new director’s tight schedule, Disney has not officially announced a release date for the sequel under production. But sources claim, it would be on our screens ‘very soon’ – late 2021 maybe.

While the previous film was star-studded with the likes of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen and as Timon and Pumbaa and James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Disney is yet to announce who, if any, from that group will be part of the sequel.

Disney is hopping to produce a remake bigger than the first Lion King, both in reviews and profit. The Lion King 2019 movie had a balanced, or mixed review chart but generated a massive $1.5 billion at global box office.

Disney has made photorealistic remakes of its old cartoon classics such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mulan” and “Dumbo.”

It has also been shared that” Alladdin” is also getting a sequel.