By now I am sure you're all hyped up about the newest version of Aladdin, coming to theaters May 24th, 2019. I was excited when I heard Guy Ritchie would be taking on Agrabah, and intrigued at what a live-action version of this movie would bring to the table. The script is written by John August, who has a great track record with adaptations. Big Fish, anyone?
Now, the full trailer is upon us!
Aside from more of the Blue Genie, we get a sprawling look at the city, the desert, and the magic of this world. Guy Ritchie's signature action style is also on display, as Aladdin dashes through the streets and avoids the palace guards. While the songs sound and look familiar, it's fun seeing hints of some of the larger scale dance numbers.
If the trailer wasn't enough, dig back into Entertainment Weekly's exclusive coverage. They gave us a larger glimpse at the whole new world presented within this film.
But how will Guy Ritchie take his shoot-em-up, gangster movie background and shift it into a Disney-safe model?
Ritchie told EW, “My skills and experience could add enough to make it feel fresh and worth it, but not so much so that it would wash away nostalgia. He added that because he has five children, “making a kids’ film was very appealing to me.”
That sounds good enough to me. I'm just pumped we get to go on a big adventure again.
One of the most talked-about roles is that of Will Smith having to walk in the footsteps of the late Robin Williams' portrayal of the Genie.
But Will Smith sounds confident in his interview with EW.
“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 goes on to say “[Williams] infused the character with a timeless version of himself...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.”
That makes me even more interested to see how the movie takes on the music in this new iteration.
Especially when so much of the music sells the love story between Jasmine and Aladdin, played by 27-year-old Canadian actor Mena Massoud and British actress Naomi Scott, 25.
The casting was definitely controversial, with worries that Disney would white-wash this movie, but so far they've kept up their end of the bargain.
While speaking with EW, Scott talked a lot about why making this movie the right way mattered.
“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.”
That sounds fresh, contemporary, and exciting.
Hopefully, Aladdin and Jasmine still have what it takes to defeat the evil Jafar.
Marwan Kenzari plays Jafar in this movie, and while his costuming looks the same, it'll be interesting to see how he can bring a new take on the villain.
Rounding out EW's new photos is one of my favorite characters in the original, Abu, who gets to stay animated.
Are you excited about the new Aladdin movie?
What are your favorite parts of the original?
Anything you hope they changed?
Let us know in the comments!
From Disney:
"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” stars Will Smith as the larger-than-life Genie; Mena Massoud as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine, the beautiful, self-determined princess; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar, the powerful sorcerer; 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. The film is produced by Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich with Marc Platt and Kevin De La Noy serving as executive producers. Alan Menken provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and lyricists Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and two new songs written by Menken and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The film, which was shot on practical stages in London and on location amidst the stunning desert vistas of Jordan, has a talented creative team helping to bring Agrabah to life, including: director of photography Alan Stewart, production designer Gemma Jackson and costume designer Michael Wilkinson."
Check out Aladdin in theaters May 24th, 2019.
