First Photos From Disney's Live-Action ALADDIN Feature Genie, Aladdin, Abu, Jafar, and Jasmine
Thanks to Entertainment Weekly we have a collection of photos to share with you from Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Aladdin.
These photos offer us out first look at Will Smith as Genie, Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, Marwan Kenzari as Jafar, and Aladdin’s monkey friend Abu.
I’ve also included additional information on the upcoming movie. Check out the images, read the details and let us know if any of it get you excited about watching Aladdin!
It might surprise fans to see that this version of Genie isn’t big and blue. It’s just Will Smith wearing a flashy blue outfit. This is pretty much what I expected to see and director Guy Ritchie was well aware that there was no way he could recreate the magic of Robin Williams, so he decided to take the character in a different direction. He says:
“The great thing about the role of the Genie is that it’s essentially a hyperbole for who that individual actor is, so it’s a wonderful platform and tapestry for an actor to fill his boots on.”
Will Smith then talked about what it was like for him to take on the role, saying:
“Whenever you’re doing things that are iconic, it’s always terrifying. The question is always: Where was there meat left on the bone? Robin didn’t leave a lot of meat on the bone with the character.”
Smith went on to discuss finding his own different and unique take on the character:
“I started to feel confident that I could deliver something that was an homage to Robin Williams but was musically different. Just the flavor of the character would be different enough and unique enough that it would be in a different lane, versus trying to compete.”
He went on to reveal that he tapped into several of the roles he played in the 1990s such as Independence Day, Bad Boys, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air “to shape his Genie, weaving enough of a flair for fashion into the character to earn the praise of one Disney executive, who described Smith’s Genie as part Fresh Prince, part Hitch.” He adds:
“I think it’ll stand out as unique even in the Disney world. There hasn’t been a lot of that hip-hop flavor in Disney history.”
Ritchie went on to explain that Smith’s version of the Genie is also more self-aware. “I like the fact that our Genie has an ego and is a little bit vain and he cares about how he’s presented because he’s been doing this for a very long time.”
When talking about her character Jasmine, Naomi Scott said:
“Having a Disney princess that looked something like me, I think was really powerful. Jasmine’s main objective at the beginning is to really protect her people and to do right by them. She definitely isn’t a finished article at the beginning of the movie, but she has this beautiful arc and progression, and she goes from asking for what she wants to just taking it, and displaying that she is a leader.”
Nasim Pedrad, who plays a new character name Dalia, Jasmine’s handmaiden and best friend, added:
“Jasmine is so resilient and independent in this version, she’s focused on things other than which boy she’s going to end up with. She really wants to be a leader, and Dalia really supports that but at the same time wants to make sure she doesn’t get in trouble.”
Like in the original movie, Jafar is after the lamp for his own selfish purposes in this film, and he sends Aladdin into the Cave of Wonders to find it for him.
It looks like Abu is in the Cave of Wonders in this image. He’s also looking pretty concerned.
When talking about Guy Ritchie’s involvement with the film and what he brings to it, Smith says:
“When you think timeless Disney classic, you’re not really thinking Guy Ritchie. But he brings a beautiful edge to the look and feel and imagining of Aladdin.”
Here’s the synopsis:
Aladdin is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, the film is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s Aladdin.
Aladdin also stars Navid Negahban as the Sultan concerned with his daughter’s future; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s free-spirited best friend and confidante; Billy Magnussen as the handsome and arrogant suitor Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and captain of the palace guards.
Disney's Aladdin hits theaters on May 24, 2019.