Disney has just announced that their 1994 hit film The Lion King is going to receive a major live action remake. The film will be directed by Jon Favreau (director of Iron Man, and recently The Jungle Book) and aims to follow the success his most recent film, which earned $965.8 million worldwide since its release in April. According to the official press release: “The Lion King builds on Disney’s success of reimagining its classics for a contemporary audience with films like Maleficent, Cinderella, and the upcoming Beauty and the Beast.”
However, although it’s going to look live-action, the visual will most likely emulate the animals seen in The Jungle Book, most likely projected across live action settings.
The Lion King has already been turned into a Tony-winning Broadway musical, which continues to sell out, featuring stage actors wearing elaborate headdresses and puppets to evoke different animals. The 1994 film version was one of the studio’s most successful films, earning $968.8 million globally. It is currently the 29th highest-grossing film and received four Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.