Disney to make 'The Lion King' live-action movie

The Walt Disney Company has announced that its animated classic, 'The Lion King' is the latest movie to be re-imagined as a live action.

The official website confirmed The Walt Disney Studios and American filmmaker and director of the hit success, 'Jungle Book,' Jon Favreau are putting a "new re-imagining of The Lion King" on the fast track to production.

The project "follows" the technologically groundbreaking smash hit, 'The Jungle Book,' directed by Favreau, which debuted in April and has earned almost 966 million dollars worldwide.

According to the website, the 21st century take on the beloved tale followed "Disney's success of re-imagining its classics for a contemporary audience with films like Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book."

The 49-year-old director will build on what he accomplished with the first 'Jungle Book' using a real child actor and bringing to life the jungle and its animals through cutting-edge technology and a green-screen set in a Los Angeles studio.

"The upcoming Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson as Belle, is already one of the most anticipated movies of 2017. Like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King will include songs from the animated film," announced the website.

The 1994 'The Lion King' won Academy Awards for the original song, 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' sung by Elton John and Tim Rice and original score by Hans Zimmer plus two Grammy Awards, with the soundtrack selling over 14 million copies.

Set in the Pride Lands of Africa and a kingdom of lions, 'The Lion King' stage production also won six Tony Awards in 1997 and still remains one of Broadway's biggest hits.

Disney and Favreau are also reportedly in development on a sequel to 'The Jungle Book' but no release date has been announced for either film.