'The Lion King': Jon Favreau to Direct Disney Live-Action Adaptation

Disney announced Wednesday it will make a live-action "Lion King" movie with Jon Favreau at the helm.

Favreau, the director of Marvel's "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2," also directed the widely successful live-action "The Jungle Book" remake earlier this year and will be working on a sequel. Favreau's "Jungle Book" has grossed $965 million to date.

The live-action version of Disney's classic "The Lion King" will join "Cinderella," "Pete’s Dragon," and the upcoming "Beauty and the Beast" in what the Associated Press is calling the new "circle of life" for popular Disney movies.

The original animated version of "The Lion King" earned $968 million worldwide when it was released in 1994 and won two Oscars, among other awards. The soundtrack won a Grammy and sold more than 14 million copies. The film featured the voice talents of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Jeremy Irons.

"The Lion King" also has been on Broadway since 1997 and is currently touring the U.S. and other countries, including China and Mexico.

The live-action remake will feature some music from the original movie and is expected to use the same CG technology that was used in “The Jungle Book.”

As news of the remake broke Wednesday, Favreau tweeted:

Excited for my next project 🦁👑

— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) September 28, 2016

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