Mufasa’s Barry Jenkins Is Married! Director Reveals He Tied the Knot with Filmmaker Lulu Wang: ‘Feels Good’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Barry Jenkinsis a married man!While attending the premiere of his new filmMufasa: The Lion King,which he directed, Jenkins, 45, confirmed that he married fellow filmmakerLulu Wangover the weekend of Dec. 6.“It feels good, man,” the Jenkins told PEOPLE of being a newlywed. “You know, we’ve been together for quite some time. We do the same thing, and when I started this project she was very heavily involved. You know, and then sort of, like, convincing me to at least consider reading the script,” he revealed.“And so it’s really wonderful. I think the presentation of this film and what happened this weekend, it feels like the completion of a cycle for us.“Lulu Wang and Barry Jenkins at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards.Amanda Edwards/GettyThough Jenkins and Wang keep their relationship very private, the pair have been linked since at least 2018.And while being with someone in your line of work can present some challenges, Jenkins says the opposite is true in their relationship.“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,” he told PEOPLE. “So they understand all your weirdness and all your strangeness, and they can help you navigate it.“Wang 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,” before adding how the two have been able to “really understand” the different stages of each other’s creative process.Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang.Jon Kopaloff/GettyStill, they turn to one another when it’s needed.“We’re not showing every version of the script, we’re not showing every cut of the film, and it’s so 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,'” she explained. “Then I have him come in or he has me come in.“It seems the couple have truly bonded over their love for art. When news that Jenkins would be directingMufasa: The Lion Kingfirst broke in 2020, Wangwasted no timeshowing her excitement for the good news. TheExpatscreator took to X, formerly Twitter, and posted an adorable video of her holding up her dog in slow motion to theLion King’siconic opening music.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Mufasa: The Lion Kingis a prequel to 1994’sThe 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.Mufasa: The Lion Kinghits theaters on Dec. 20.

Barry Jenkinsis a married man!

While attending the premiere of his new filmMufasa: The Lion King,which he directed, Jenkins, 45, confirmed that he married fellow filmmakerLulu Wangover the weekend of Dec. 6.

“It feels good, man,” the Jenkins told PEOPLE of being a newlywed. “You know, we’ve been together for quite some time. We do the same thing, and when I started this project she was very heavily involved. You know, and then sort of, like, convincing me to at least consider reading the script,” he revealed.

“And so it’s really wonderful. I think the presentation of this film and what happened this weekend, it feels like the completion of a cycle for us.”

Lulu Wang and Barry Jenkins at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards.Amanda Edwards/Getty

Amanda Edwards/Getty

Though Jenkins and Wang keep their relationship very private, the pair have been linked since at least 2018.

And while being with someone in your line of work can present some challenges, Jenkins says the opposite is true in their relationship.

“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,” he told PEOPLE. “So they understand all your weirdness and all your strangeness, and they can help you navigate it.”

Wang 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,” before adding how the two have been able to “really understand” the different stages of each other’s creative process.

Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang.Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Still, they turn to one another when it’s needed.

“We’re not showing every version of the script, we’re not showing every cut of the film, and it’s so 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,'” she explained. “Then I have him come in or he has me come in.”

It seems the couple have truly bonded over their love for art. When news that Jenkins would be directingMufasa: The Lion Kingfirst broke in 2020, Wangwasted no timeshowing her excitement for the good news. TheExpatscreator took to X, formerly Twitter, and posted an adorable video of her holding up her dog in slow motion to theLion King’siconic opening music.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Mufasa: The Lion Kingis a prequel to 1994’sThe 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.

Mufasa: The Lion Kinghits theaters on Dec. 20.

source: people.com