Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, who wrote the original film, will reunite for the sequel. "Gnomeo & Juliet" director Kelly Asbury will act as a creative consultant. The film will be produced by Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish with John as executive producer.

The 2011 film, which also included original songs by John, featured the voices of James McAvoy (Gnomeo), Emily Blunt (Juliet), Michael Caine (Lord Redbrick), Jason Statham (Tybalt), Ashley Jensen (Nanette), Patrick Stewart (William Shakespeare), Ozzy Osbourne (Fawn) and Maggie Smith (Lady Blueberr).

In "Sherlock Gnomes," which is planned to begin production in the fall, Gnomeo and Juliet enlist the help of Sherlock Gnomes when gnomes start disappearing from the suburban gardens of England.

John is a five-time Grammy Award winner and Academy Award winner for "The Lion King." He has written the scores to the Broadway musicals Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Aida (Tony Award) and Lestat. John's numerous albums include "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Tumbleweed Connection," "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" and his self-titled 1970 album.