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| It was confirmed at the Walt Disney Studios Live Action Films Panel that Will Smith (“After Earth”) will indeed be playing The Genie in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming live action version of the classic Disney animated hit “Aladdin”. Smith will also be joined by Mena Massoud (“Open Heart”) as Aladdin and Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) will play Jasmine. |
Disney bosses revealed the full casts for their live action versions of
Aladdin and Dumbo on Saturday (15Jul17).
Officials at the company announced at the D23 Expo in Anaheim,
California that, as expected, Will Smith will step into the late Robin
Williams' shoes to reprise the role of Genie which the late comic genius made
his own in the 1992 animated version of the film.
British Power Rangers star Naomi Scott will play Princess Jasmine while
Mena Massoud has been announced as the titular character. The film marks the
first big screen role for Massoud who reportedly beat out 2000 other actors. He
currently stars in the Amazon series Jack Ryan and is widely viewed by
Hollywood executives as a star on the rise.
The film, to be directed by Guy Ritchie, will begin production in London
later this month.
Meanwhile, Disney bosses also confirmed the casting for their other
major animated-to-live action reboot, Dumbo, which Will Smith was also in early
talks for. That film has just begun production in London with Tim Burton in the
director's chair and a cast which includes previously announced former Bond
girl Eva Green as a French trapeze artist named Colette who is employed by the
villain of the piece, Vandermere.
Tom Hanks was once slated to sign on for that role but the job has now
been filled by Spider-man: Homecoming standout, Michael Keaton. Batman Returns
star Danny DeVito, meanwhile, is a circus owner while Colin Farrell nabbed the
final leading spot, once linked to both Will and Chris Pine, as a widowed dad
who befriends the famous elephant.
Tim Burton sent a special video to the audience which saw him standing
inside Casey Jr., the famous train featured in the story.
Dumbo's U.S. release date, 29 March, 2019 was also announced.
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