DVDizzy Forum

Q: What did you like about the storyline and your role in Aladdin?

Numan Acar: I was, of course, aware of the original story. I was also familiar with the storyline from the 1992 animation film. When I was first offered the role of Hakim, I was not sure if I even remembered him from the original story. But when I spoke to the creatives and read the script I realized Hakim was important to the plot. And of course working with Guy Ritchie was enticing. I was drawn to the impossible love between two different classes. The princess and the street rat. I respected the fact that the producers, director and casting director really tried hard to find actors who could really meet in Agrabah, the place where the story unfolds. It was a very special experience to be on location and seeing all the costumes, make-up, production design, it was incredibly impressive. My character Hakim is the general of the army of Agrabah and the right hand of the Sultan but also the Vizier, Jaffar. The Sultan wants his daughter to get married to the next best prince. The Vizier smells a way to be Sultan and rule the kingdom. So poor Hakim is between these figures and tries to find his place. His main questions in life are power and loyalty. The eternal problem of human existence.

Q: How was the filming with Naomi Scott, Mena Massoud, Will Smith, Billy Magnussen...and the director Guy Ritchie?

Numan Acar: I was so lucky to have had a chance to work with such talented and amazing personalities. Like Naomi Scott. Naomi is a lovely person and has an incredible voice. Mena such a big talent and smart man. Billy Magnussen, is an amazing actor and human being. We had a really great time. On and off screen. He visited me in Berlin, where I live, just a couple of weeks ago and we remain friends. And of course, Will Smith, a gentlemen, polite and friendly to everybody. He enjoys film making and acting. When I see that, in someone who has had such longevity in this business, I know I made the right decision and I am in the right place. Guy Ritchie, I love his films, what a smart filmmaker. That impressed me a lot. He is a timing and dialogues machine. You could make a film about him directing a film, which would be incredibly entertaining,we had so much fun during the shoot. I had a great experience.

Q: Did you watch Aladdin (animated movie) of 1992, before to perform in this movie?

Numan Acar: I didn’t need to. I watched it already so many times. I am a big animation film fan. I watched it with my family several times. It is a rare film that the whole family can sit together and enjoy. I have five brothers and sisters and my parents, lots of different tastes and generation gaps. Difficult to find the right film. Now I am very excited to watch this version of Aladdin again after so many years with my family and the new generation too.

Sotiris wrote:His main questions in life are power and loyalty. The eternal problem of human existence.

Q: What’s the status of the live-action film?

Alan Menken: I wrote some new songs with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul as my lyricists and also rewrote some of the songs from the original. It’s done. It’s just a matter of doing our scoring. We got the score in a few weeks in London, and then a lot of post work (before) it’s coming out May 24. These adaptations are almost like spokes in a wheel, as opposed to being a continuous evolution. Each one is a different telling. So we have one song in particular that’s new to the movie called “Speechless,” which we’re all really excited about. It’s a song for Jasmine.

Q: How was it working with Pasek and Paul? Were they a little star-struck?

Alan Menken: Well, we certainly had fun with me telling them behind-the-scenes stories. We had a lot of laughs. They’re very dear, and they’re incredible talents. I had known about them since they were in college. My daughter went to the University of Michigan and was telling me, “Oh, there’s this team called Pasek and Paul, and they’re really good.” When it was suggested that they collaborate with me on these songs, I said, “Hey, that’s great.” (And they told me) “Also, on the ‘Mermaid’ musical you’ll be working with Lin-Manuel Miranda” — who I also knew of when he was a little boy in New York, through my sister, who was a musical-theater actress, and her daughter went to the same school as Lin. So it’s a whole generation of young talent that I’ve known about as they were coming up, the other one is Bobby Lopez, watching each of them come of age and make an impact on musical theater.

Disney's Divinity wrote:
This confirms, too, that Miranda was forced on TLM.

Mooky wrote:There's a rumor going around Instagram that Lily James and Emma Watson have been spotted on the set of Aladdin. Sounds like BS to me and no other sites are reporting it.

Ooooh Grace, I just spoke to someone who was an extra for the reshoots of the wedding scene in the live-action Aladdin & supposedly Emma Watson & Lily James were on set!!! Belle & Cinderella coming from their kingdoms to support Jasmine??!! I might cry.

Disney's Divinity wrote:At least they don't act like they're the authority on what Aladdin should be as Miranda has been.

Disney's Divinity wrote:Did I say they weren't forced on him???? No, I did not.

Sotiris wrote:

Mooky wrote:There's a rumor going around Instagram that Lily James and Emma Watson have been spotted on the set of Aladdin. Sounds like BS to me and no other sites are reporting it.

The rumor started from a random person's tweet. It's highly unlikely it will happen but it would be cool if it did.

Ooooh Grace, I just spoke to someone who was an extra for the reshoots of the wedding scene in the live-action Aladdin & supposedly Emma Watson & Lily James were on set!!! Belle & Cinderella coming from their kingdoms to support Jasmine??!! I might cry.

JeanGreyForever wrote:I don't remember Lin ever saying anything negative about TLM either, just like Pasek and Paul.

This is just our normal way of interaction it seems

Mooky wrote:Oh, that's where the rumor came from! And it's only one person reporting it? I'll believe it when I see it.

The DisInsider wrote:Need to address this before people start asking me. Emma Watson (Belle) and Lily James (Cinderella) do NOT make cameos in Aladdin.