Aladdin (Live-Action)

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, the Genie is nonhuman, so he isn't required to look like the people who live in Agrabah. I personally don't mind the casting.

Naomi Scott is a nice actress, but I'd rather they just get unknowns who better fit the parts. Thank God Tom Hardy will not be playing Jafar.

[PatrickvD]

Well, the Genie is nonhuman, so he isn't required to look like the people who live in Agrabah.

That actually makes it worse and places the casting in a classic Hollywood racist tradition: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

Sorry for the can of worms, but this is going to come back to bite Disney.

[Disney's Divinity]

Considering the fact that the Genie's storyline revolves around him wanting to be freed from his enslavement and Aladdin's character arc is at least partly about overcoming the desire to use the Genie's powers to selfishly benefit himself, I don’t find it offensive... I get where you're coming from and I've heard of that criticism before, but reading through it, I don't think it applies here. The Genie isn't acting of his own accord throughout the film; he is literally required to help Aladdin. I don't remember any upset when Iglehart played the character on Broadway, whatever the case.

I imagine their thought process is that the film is aimed at an American audience who generally associates the cruelty of slavery with what was done to black people, so...

[rodrigo_ca]

Just in: Naomi Scott as Jasmine, Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Will Smith confirmed as the Genie.

[Sotiris]

It's just been announced at the D23 Expo that Mena Massoud was cast as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine!

[JeanGreyForever]

I really liked Naomi Scott in both Power Rangers and the Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth so I think she's a great choice for Jasmine. Looks the part, can have an action role, and can sing. Not familiar with Aladdin's actor. Guess Will Smith is Genie after all. I wasn't originally happy with that when it was first rumored a few months back, but he's grown on me. My main issue with him honestly is just that he hasn't been a big box office draw in a while.

[Sotiris]

Alan Menken just announced that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen) are writing the lyrics for the new songs in the live-action Aladdin.

Ugh. Why does Disney always do this? Why do they feel the need to hire new songwriters for these live-action remakes? These are classic properties with an established and iconic musical/lyrical palette. Why mess with a tried-and-true team if they are available? What a horrible way to treat Sir Tim Rice. He did an astounding job for the new Beauty and the Beast songs this very year. Why replace him? It's insulting. Disney's simply horrible. They're ungrateful and disloyal.

By the way, Pasek and Paul are already attached to do the songs in Disney's live-action Snow White. Did they need to be plastered onto Aladdin too?

[Disney's Divinity]

I mean, they could get away with it with TLM considering Ashman isn't around, but one of the original songwriters is still alive in this case? Disney's just.... Ugh, there are no words.

[DisneyFan09]

Guess Will Smith is Genie after all. I wasn't originally happy with that when it was first rumored a few months back, but he's grown on me. My main issue with him honestly is just that he hasn't been a big box office draw in a while.

And he's been officially confirmed; http://animatedviews.com/2017/breaking- ... n-aladdin/

It's not that I completely detest Will Smith, but I've never personally liked him as a comedian nor an actor. I've always found his comedic timing and attitude boisterous, loud and obnoxious. He tries to desperately to be charming, cool and happy-go-lucky with his persona that he comes across as even more off-putting and contrived by doing so. Him as the Genie is a miscast. But oh well.

[disneyprincess11]

Menken is NOT dismissed. I went to his concert at the expo and he announced that the La La Land songwriters are working with him in Aladdin.

[JeanGreyForever]

Menken is NOT dismissed. I went to his concert at the expo and he announced that the La La Land songwriters are working with him in Aladdin.

Thank God for that. Was Tim Rice the lyricist for the Aladdin musical songs? Tbh, I wasn't a big fan of the new songs there so if he was behind them then I wouldn't mind his exclusion that much. The only new Aladdin song I really loved was To Be Free from the Disneyland Spectacular show that was recently replaced by Frozen, but I'm not sure if either Menken or Rice had anything to do with that song.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think it's even more odd because of how well-known Tim Rice is. I can't believe they wouldn't even ask him to be involved. I guess you can't expect Disney to have any gratitude or respect for the people who made the films they're now pimping out for new cash.

[ChrisLyne]

Tim Rice didn't work on the stage show, that was Chad Beguelin. They never officially confirmed why Tim Rice didn't work on the stage production but I believe it was because they originally planned it just for licensing and hired Chad Beguelin to write the book and new songs, he then approached Alan Menken I believe and that's when it was decided to reincorporate the "lost" Howard Ashman material and characters. The rest is history.

To Be Free was (I believe) all Menken, music and lyrics.

As for whether or not Tim Rice was asked to be involved with the live action movie I'm not sure. I'd have assumed so since he came back for Beauty and the Beast but I have nothing to base that on. So far his only comments have been a reply to my tweet where he said "It's an honour to be replaced by two lyricists." (https://twitter.com/SirTimRice/status/8 ... 6540516353) By two I'm pretty sure he's referring to the new team as one and Chad Beguelin as the other as my original tweet was saying how surprised I was it wasn't either Tim Rice or Chad Beguelin doing the new lyrics. And yes I was in total fanboy shock when I saw that he'd commented!

Must admit I'm really curious just how much new material is going to be in here. Beauty and the Beast added 4 new songs (Aria, How Does a Moment Last Forever, Days in the Sun, Evermore) plus a reprise but lost Gaston Reprise. Assuming Aladdin adds a similar amount of material (which could be totally wrong I know) and that Proud of Your Boy gets added in (I'm almost certain of this, either using One Jump reprise as a lead in like on stage or replacing it due to time/repetition) then we're looking at maybe 3 new songs and maybe a reprise (thinking this will go to Proud of Your Boy). So maybe a new solo for Jasmine, a new song for Genie (maybe the originally intended To Be Free?) and a song for Jafar? Personally I'd love to see a High Adventure style sung action sequence. That could really offer something we've not seen in the films before.

Must admit I'm very happy with the castings. Yes, my own personal bias was (and always will be) for the original Broadway cast but I'm so happy that they've cast unknowns for Aladdin and Jasmine. This combined with the fact they delayed production to find them means they really did go after the right people for the job rather than big names. I couldn't ask for more than that.

Will Smith as the Genie. Yes he's a name and it's stunt casting (and like Emma Watson I'm pretty sure it came from the top producer/studio level rather than director/casting director since they wanted him for Dumbo before offering him Aladdin) but I can see it. As long as they don't try to get him to replicate Robin Williams and let him do his own thing he really has the potential to be a great Genie. Very different but still great. The man carried Suicide Squad so with a good story/script he could give a fantastic performance.

[Disney's Divinity]

I thought Smith had been briefly involved with Dumbo, but then I didn't see his name in the new summary/press release(?) for Dumbo from D23 and thought I'd imagined it. I think he and the girl from Power Rangers will do decently here. Now I just hope they don't screw up Jafar.

[estefan]

I thought Smith had been briefly involved with Dumbo, but then I didn't see his name in the new summary/press release(?) for Dumbo from D23 and thought I'd imagined it.

Colin Farrell is playing the role they offered to Will Smith. Chris Pine was another actor they considered for the role.

[DisneyFan09]

Menken is NOT dismissed. I went to his concert at the expo and he announced that the La La Land songwriters are working with him in Aladdin.

Whoops! I'm sorry. My mistake.

[Sotiris]

Tim Rice didn't work on the stage show, that was Chad Beguelin. They never officially confirmed why Tim Rice didn't work on the stage production but I believe it was because they originally planned it just for licensing and hired Chad Beguelin to write the book and new songs, he then approached Alan Menken I believe and that's when it was decided to reincorporate the "lost" Howard Ashman material and characters.

I believe Tim wasn't involved with the stage adaptation because initially it was only going to be a stock and amateur production and there weren't going to be any new songs. The plan was to add the unused Ashman songs and have Beguelin just write the book. Of course things changed later on but I figure it was too late by then for Tim to get involved. But this is different. We're talking about a movie here. Considering Tim was more than willing to write new Beauty and the Beast songs, I'm convinced that Disney never offered him the job and just replaced him without even telling him about it.

[JeanGreyForever]

Thanks for all the info about the stage show and what exactly Tim Rice and Alan Menken were involved with. I love the song To Be Free so it makes sense that it would have been Menken behind it. I hope it finds its way into the film because Jasmine needs a solo, but I doubt it will which is a pity because I think it fits in seamlessly with the other songs from the film. Jafar definitely needs a solo and I personally would hope they include Why Me? into the film especially since it could replace Prince Ali (reprise).

Can Will Smith even sing?

[D82]

Can Will Smith even sing?

Apart from being an actor, he's also a rapper and he's had some success in that field too. In fact, I think he began his career in music before becoming an actor.


More news related to the remake:

“Game of Thrones” Scribe Vanessa Taylor to Rewrite Guy Ritchie’s “Aladdin” for Disney (Exclusive)
http://www.tracking-board.com/game-of-t ... exclusive/

Disney sparks race row after casting non-Arab actress Naomi Scott as Jasmine in Aladdin
http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/disne ... 90471.html

[ChrisLyne]

I'm a little surprised to hear they're re-writing it. Guess this means the production delays (they were meant to start filming this month) are to do with more than just casting. I can't see it being a major re-write though since the article says they plan to start production next month so probably more fine tuning the script.

Based on Guy Ritchie directing and Vanessa Taylor's resume I'm thinking this will lean a little more heavily into action/adventure. I'm actually good with that, adapting the film to fit the medium rather than just doing a carbon copy. Plus it would be the opposite of the stage show, which went heavily into the musical/comedy, meaning the animated, stage show and live action film would all have their own unique feel and spin on the story.