We just started shooting Aladdin and I wanted to intro you guys to our new family… Mena Massoud/Aladdin, Naomi Scott/Princess Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari/Jafar, and I’m over here gettin my Genie on. Here we go!
BURBANK, Calif. (September 6, 2017) – Next in Disney Studio’s continuous march of remaking all their animated classics as live action films is the venerable Robin Williams vehicle, Aladdin. Casting for the film is now complete, and production is currently underway at Longcross Studios outside London.
The Aladdin cast includes: Two-time Oscar® nominee Will Smith (Ali, Men in Black) as the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses his magic lamp; Mena Massoud (Amazon’s Jack Ryan) as Aladdin, the hapless but lovable street rat who is smitten with the Sultan’s daughter; Naomi Scott (Power Rangers) as Princess Jasmine, the Sultan’s beautiful daughter who wants to have a say in how she lives her life; Marwan Kenzari (Murder on the Orient Express) as Jafar, an evil sorcerer who devises a nefarious plot to unseat the Sultan and rule Agrabah himself; Navid Negahban (Homeland) as the Sultan, the ruler of Agrabah who is eager to find a proper husband for his daughter, Jasmine; Nasim Pedrad (Saturday Night Live) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s hand maiden and confidante; Billy Magnussen (Into the Woods) as Prince Anders, a suitor from Skanland and potential husband for Princess Jasmine; and Numan Acar (Homeland) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and head of the palace guards.
Robin Williams made the role of the Genie famous, but his will prohibits any of the outtakes from being used in any further productions.
Aladdin is directed by Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) from a screenplay by John August (Dark Shadows, Big Fish) and based (probably loosely) on the 1992 animated film Aladdin and stories from One Thousand and One Nights. The producer is Dan Lin (The LEGO Movie). The score will be provided by Alan Menkin, and yes, it’s going to be a musical.
The casting choices appear driven as much or more by box office draw as anything else, but we know that everyone selected is an amazing, powerful talent in their own right. Will Smith as the All Powerful Genie? After Robin Williams, he’s got some very big embroidered satin boots to fill.
For more information on “Aladdin,” here’s the social media:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyStudios
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneystudios/
- Hashtag: #Aladdin
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