A live-action Aladdin?

Aladdin is the Disney Movie of the Month here on the blog, but other than an initial post I’ve been really bad at following through with any subsequent posts. So here’s a few thoughts on a possible live-action adaptation of Aladdin.

In recent years Disney have decided to go through their extensive back catalogue and adapt much loved movies into new live action reinterpretations. So far Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and The Jungle Book have all had adaptations and in a few months the much anticipated live-action Beauty and the Beast is going to be released. Disney are not stopping there, a live-action Mulan is already well into development and there’s numerous other live-action adaptions on the release schedule. A live-action Aladdin has been confirmed to be happening eventually but precise details are still unclear. In this blog post I am going to be sharing a few ideas about how I think Disney could tackle a live-action Aladdin movie.

Cast Properly

• This is probably the most obvious example which is why I’ve put it first on my list. A live-action Aladdin movie must have a culturally correct cast. Disney have to cast Arabian actors.

Explore Jasmine’s character more

•  Jasmine is an interesting character, she’s clearly unwilling to follow tradition and has a rebellious side. But in terms of character development she doesn’t really get that much in the original movie. That’s something I’d like to see change in a new version of Aladdin.

Don’t try to replicate Robin Williams

• The Genie is one of the most important parts of the original movie and Robin Williams’ performance is iconic. Therefore I think that any attempt at remaking Aladdin should not try to recreate his performance. Instead of the comedic animated Genie I’d want to see a more mysterious and magical Genie who would be more based on the genies from mythology.

Be Epic!

• A live-action Aladdin (probably more so than any other Disney movie) has so much potential to look epic. From the Cave of Wonders, to the sword fights, to the city of Agrabah, to the A Whole New World sequence. Everything about a live-action Aladdin should be looking big, bold and epic.

Reference other Disney movies

• Okay this one’s a little bit of an odd one, but given how many live-action remakes Disney are producing I’d love it if Disney started to connect them up to be set in the same universe. Aladdin and Jasmine teamed up with Hercules to take on Jafar and Hades in an episode of a 1998 animated TV Series, so why not add hints that there’s more heroes and villains out there?