Barry Jenkins, a renowned filmmaker, recently made headlines with the confirmation of his marriage. At the premiere of his new film Mufasa: The Lion King, which he directed, Jenkins, aged 45, revealed that he tied the knot with fellow filmmaker Lulu Wang over the weekend of Dec. 6. This event holds a special significance for him as he shared his feelings with PEOPLE, stating, "It feels good, man. We've been together for quite some time. We do the same thing, and when I started this project, she was very heavily involved. She convinced me to at least consider reading the script." This moment seems to mark the completion of a cycle for them.

The Love Story of Two Filmmakers in the World of Cinema

Marriage and the Film Project

Jenkins and Wang have kept their relationship private, but they have been linked since at least 2018. In their relationship, Jenkins finds it wonderful to have someone at home who understands the strange world of directing movies. As he told PEOPLE, "I think when you do something that's very strange — which, I think directing movies is strange — it's really wonderful to go home and there's someone there who also does the same thing. They understand all your weirdness and all your strangeness, and they can help you navigate it."Wang also shared a similar sentiment earlier this year, telling PEOPLE, "It's really nice. It's great to have someone who really understands the industry and can talk about process." The two have been able to "really understand" the different stages of each other's creative process.

Supporting Each Other in the Creative Process

Still, they turn to one another when needed. As Wang explained, "We're not showing every version of the script, we're not showing every cut of the film. We pick the right moment where we really feel like, 'Okay, I've done everything. I've used everybody, and now I'm really stuck or I feel like I don't know what else to do.' Then I have him come in or he has me come in."This shows how their love for art has truly bonded them. When the news of Jenkins directing Mufasa: The Lion King first broke in 2020, Wang wasted no time showing her excitement. She took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted an adorable video of her holding up her dog in slow motion to the Lion King's iconic opening music.

The Film and Its Impact

Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to 1994's The Lion King. The film follows the story of Mufasa and Taka, two best friends whose journey takes them from being like brothers to sworn enemies. The film stars Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Anika Noni Rose, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner and more. It hits theaters on Dec. 20, promising to be a significant addition to the Lion King franchise.