Film & TV NewsBenj Pasek and Justin Paul Board Disney's Live-Action AladdinThe Tony- and Oscar-winning Dear Evan Hansen composers team up with Alan Menken.
By
Ryan McPhee
July 17, 2017
Justin Paul and Benj Pasek
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Tony- and Oscar-winning team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have joined Alan Menken as songwriters for Disney’s upcoming live-action Aladdin. Menken made the announcement during Disney’s D23 Expo over the weekend in Anaheim, California.
Alan Menken
Monica Simoes
Pasek and Paul join the film after winning an Oscar earlier this year for the song “City of Stars” from La La Land. They also took home the Tony Award for Best Original Score for their work on Dear Evan Hansen.
This marks the second live-action Disney film announced for the Dear Evan Hansen collaborators; the two have also been tapped for a remake of the 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Disney’s new Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie,will star Mena Massoud as the title street urchin-turned-prince, Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, and Will Smith as the Genie. In addition to the new songs, the film will incorporate Menken, Tim Rice, and the late Howard Ashman's tunes from the original 1992 animated feature.
As previously speculated, Menken will also collaborate with fellow Tony-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda on new songs for Disney’s upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
Release dates for all three titles will be announced at a later date.
Take a look below as Pasek and Paul break down Dear Evan Hansen's signature anthem, "Waving Through a Window."
