US media and entertainment giant Disney has renewed discussions for the purchase of some of rival 21st Century Fox's assets, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Talks between the two began several weeks ago but fizzled due to disagreements over price, according to the newspaper.

Fox and WSJ parent News Corp share common ownership in the family-led empire created by mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Other companies such as Comcast, Verizon and Japan's Sony have also  expressed varying levels of interest, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter.

The discussions are focused on the Twentieth Century Fox movie and TV studio, some international assets like Fox's 39 percent stake in British satellite TV operator Sky, India's Star TV, and some US cable networks -- but not Fox News -- long seen as a jewel in the Murdoch family crown.