No ROBIN WILLIAMS

[Tk2]

Hi i'm new here and this is my first post.

I heard from a very reliable source, that the Aladdin Plat Ed DVDs will have no mention of Robim Williams in it (except the credits of course).

From what I understand there was a deal/contract between Williams and Disney about this, but not sure of the details.

I think it'll be bad, since I hate the fact that the Lion King Plat Ed also didn't have proper extras about the cast. And Genie is the star of Aladdin, and not having any interviews with Williams will be a shame

[2099net]

Well, given the lack of voice talent interviews on the Lion King, what makes you think Disney even want to interview anyone for the Aladdin disc?

[Mushu2083]

Where did you find this out TK? Not saying you're wrong or anything just want to know what your source is. Oh well, I'd still buy Aladdin on DVD even if there is no mention of Robin Williams. I've wating to upgrade to DVD for a LONG time. Just a little mad that I have to wait until OCTOBER!

[IggieKuzco]

I dont see why Robin wouldnt want to be in anything other then the credits, i mean, after all he did a great job and is loved by many... but he may have his own reasons so i am also very interested in the source.

I also agree with 2099 that Disney didn't put muh cast extras on the other DVD's... why should they put on this one? I think overall this is a good direction (even though i love cast goodies) because it gives more of a feeling that it's about the movie and the disney magic and not the superstars behind the characters.

[disneyfella]

as i recall, there was a dispute in the original release of Aladdin. Robin Williams sayed that he'd play the part of Genie as long as they did NOT use his name in advertising or marketing etc. He wanted the character to be something of its own. Disney agreed and told Mr. Williams that they would never put his name on anything to promote the picture. Well, the first trailer released for Aladdin had the words (featuring the voice talent of Robin Williams.....or soething like that) blazed across the screen. Robin williams was so furious he called up disney immediately and threatened to sue. He swore that he would never work for disney or a disney affiliate again if they were going to lie straight to his face like that. this is the reason that he was NOT the voice of Genie in Return of Jafar. Robin Williams wouldn't even do a touchstone film or hollywood pictures film. he was LIVID!

Apparently there had been some mix-up in the advertising department at disney and they "didn't get the memo" about not using his name and disney swears it was an honest mistake. consequently no one was ever taken to court. the trailer was quickly pulled and another released without the phrase "starring Robin Williams as Genie" or whatever it was.

Anyway, fast forward about 2-3 years and Jeffrey katzenberg really wants to make ammends with Robin Williams since he saw him as a vital asset to future collaborations with disney. GET THIS: he bought Robin Williams and original Picasso as a "we're sorry we screwed up" gift. An original picasso was given to Robin Williams by Jeffrey katzenberg to say "i'm sorry". well naturally Mr. Williams had gotten over his angryness and felt that his point was made so he made ammends with disney. this is why he IS featured as the voice of genie in King of Thieves.

My thoughts on this are that 1) the story you heard was probably about the original release of Aladdin since Mr. Williams has since made ammends with the company. and 2) like 2099net says, sice they didn't put voice interviews on the Lion King why should we expect anything on the aladdin discs?

[chrisrose]

Why would we expect anything? True, I expect very little from Disney anymore. But I'm still bitter. For years I kept hearing about how Robin Williams recorded hours of unused improvisations for the Genie, and I hoped that someday Disney would release at least *some* footage of Robin in the recording studio. If they're not going to put any of it on the Aladdin DVD... where they've got tons of room for that sort of thing... then it will never see the light of day.

And that's depressing.

It always pisses me off when the voice actors only get a brief mention on Disney DVDs. I'm sorry but there's a *lot* of room on the DVD format - and I'd rather see interviews with the voice actors who actually made an important contribution to the film - than "all new" crap like boring kiddie games and music videos with some teenybopper pop-tarts who had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL FILM!

(hyperventilating)

[Today4U]

Many, many years ago, when King of Thieves was just about to come out, I read the truth about Robin Williams not appearing in "The Return of Jafar." It was in an interview with Robin Williams. He said that he had read an interview with some Disney guy who assured the interviewer that Robin Williams would be the Genie in "The Return of Jafar." At this point, Disney had not asked Robin yet. So Robin declined doing the voice because he felt like Disney just assumed he would do it, and that inconsiderate and egotistical of them. I forget the rest of the story, but he did briefly explain what lead him to do King of Thieves.

[2099net]

DisneyFella is right. A Picasso made him do it!

[Tk2]

let me quote something from an article on the OSCARS from Animated-News.com

"I'm here tonight to present the award for Best Animated Feature. One of them is made by the French, one by Disney and one by Pixar, formerly of Disney. Makes you think of a French Minnie Mouse", he said, assuming a French accent, "with armpit hair, smoking a cigarette, going ‘What are you doing Michael Eisner? Listen, if you lose Miramax all you are going to have left IS basically a Muppet and a water slide’!" Guess he won’t be appearing on the Aladdin: Platinum Edition DVD anytime soon, then!

Well I'm glad to see Williams defending Roy (or at least picking on Eisner)!
oh well, we'll wait and see!

[Rebel]

So Robin declined doing the voice because he felt like Disney just assumed he would do it, and that inconsiderate and egotistical of them. I forget the rest of the story, but he did briefly explain what lead him to do King of Thieves.

And of course Robin Williams is never inconsiderate or egotistical...

[chrisrose]

Yeah I heard Robin at the Oscars too and thought the same thing... no way in hell he's gonna be involved with the Aladdin DVD now. But, the more people dissing Eisner the better... so it's almost worth it. After all, if they get someone in charge who cares more about quality, maybe Disney will re-do some of their classics on DVD in the future....y'know and do them right this time.

[AwallaceUNC]

Yeah, I was thrilled by the anti-Eisnerism. But I wouldn't take that as a sign that Williams won't be involved. Celebrities can easily make remarks or even cheap-shots and totally abandon their sentiments months later, and no one will remember or hold them to it. It may have been as simple as just a joke... or maybe Williams really doesn't like Eisner, but that doesn't mean he'll stick to his guns. But who knows... I guess there isn't anything in it for Robin anyways.

I do think it's interesting that he is the one who presented this category, on ABC.

-Aaron

[Iago]

I heard that Robin Williams fell out with Disney after making Aladdin. I heard that he wasn't paid enough and another one about the advertising of his name.

Can anyone please clarify?

[Mr. Toad]

Try the Search function. There are threads about it. Basically boiled down to the use of his name in advertisements and the overuse of his voice in commercials not anything about money.

Someone bought him an expensive painting to say sorry but I don't think it worked.

[PatrickvD]

If I remember correctly it had something to do with the way his character, the genie was advertised in the marketing campaign. He wanted his part in the movie to be low profile due to some loyalties he had to another project. When Disney advertised the big fat genie posters all over America, he wasnt a happy comedian at all. But I'm not entirely sure this was how it went. I'm sure someone on the forum knows it more specifically.

[RJKD23]

Continued info <a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... 8">here</a>..

I used the search function..

[danamichelle]

Wow... I didn't know any of this. I guess you learn new things everyday. I wish someone would give me a Picaso if they made me mad

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I think Robin Williams over-reacted a little because at that time nobody got attention for being in an animated movie!

[Disneykid]

Here's where I'm confused, though. Now that Robin Williams has forgiven Disney and all that jazz, why is he still practically missing from Aladdin's bonus material (aside from a few minutes of sound booth footage)? He's barely even referenced to by the other cast and crew members. Surely by now he must not care anymore about downsizing the Genie's publicity now that everyone knows him in the role.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Here's where I'm confused, though. Now that Robin Williams has forgiven Disney and all that jazz, why is he still practically missing from Aladdin's bonus material (aside from a few minutes of sound booth footage)? He's barely even referenced to by the other cast and crew members. Surely by now he must not care anymore about downsizing the Genie's publicity now that everyone knows him in the role.

Well even though he's now fine with Aladdin, he called Disney "cheap" I think he just said that just because he voiced a non-Disney animated film(Robots) and wanted to surport his movie. The only reason he voiced in that movie is because he heard the movie was CG and he loves Pixar! So he thought this will be as good as Pixar too.