Two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith will play the Genie in Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, according to a July 15 tweet from Disney. Riding the magic carpet will be Mena Massoud (Jack Ryan, Open Heart) as Aladdin and Naomi Scott (Power Rangers) as Princess Jasmine. Composer Alan Menken recently revealed that filming will begin this summer.
Mena Massoud announced as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, and Will Smith as Genie in live-action Aladdin! #D23Expo
— Disney (@Disney) July 15, 2017
Disney had previously put out an open casting call for the roles of Aladdin and Jasmine.
Read: DISNEY CALLS FOR MIDDLE EASTERN ACTORS FOR ALADDIN FILM
Helmed by Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie, the film will be a movie musical based on the original Oscar-winning 1992 animated feature, which featured a score by Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice. The Aladdin remake comes hot off the heels of Disney’s successful live-action Beauty and the Beast, which was released March 17 and reached over $200 million in sales by its fifth day of release, breaking box-office records.
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Remakes of the animated films Dumbo, Mulan, and The Lion King are also in the works.
The stage adaptation of Aladdin is currently playing on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre starring Telly Leung in the title role. Courtney Reed plays Jasmine, and Major Attaway is the Genie.
SHOP ALADDIN MERCHANDISE AT THE PLAYBILL STORE!
