Also featured in the pictures are the titular character, the villainous Jafar, Aladdin's pet monkey Abu and Jasmine's handmaiden Dalia.
- Dec 20, 2018
AceShowbiz - Disney has granted fans' wishes by sharing new photos from the live-action "Aladdin" movie. Making their way out via Entertainment Weekly, the images offer first look at some major characters, including Genie (Will Smith), Jasmine (Naomi Scott), Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) as well as Aladdin's pet monkey Abu.
In the upcoming movie based on the Arabic folktale, Aladdin's (Mena Massoud)'s life changes after he unleashes Genie from his lamp. His friendship with Genie is depicted in one of the photos. Two other images tease Aladdin's encounter with Jasmine, who goes undercover while wandering around the streets of Agrabah. The two are seen fleeing from palace guards through a tannery.
We can show you the world... of Disney’s live-action #Aladdin! Get a shining, shimmering, splendid first look at the reimagined classic in our magical First Look issue: https://t.co/Kwkcdfen5vpic.twitter.com/7NbyiRRcLH
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 19, 2018
In another image, Jasmine looks royal in a pink dress as she stands on the steps of the Sultan's palace. In the Guy Ritchie-directed movie, the Sultan's daughter is seeking power in order to protect her people and become a leader.
Coming in as her adversary is Jafar, the Sultan's advisor who wishes to become the most powerful sorcerer on Earth with the magical lamp. On the other hand, Jasmine has Dalia as her best friend and handmaiden to help her wade through the suitors who ask for her hand in marriage. Jasmine's pet tiger Rajah will also be featured in the movie.
One thing is for sure, it looks like #Aladdin is going to be aesthetically pleasing pic.twitter.com/WaujMID2gW
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 19, 2018
Sharing his vision for Genie, who was famously voiced by the late Robin Williams in the 1992 animated movie, Ritchie says, "I wanted a muscular 1970s dad." He goes on teasing, "He was big enough to feel like a force - not so muscular that he looked like he was counting his calories, but formidable enough to look like you knew when he was in the room."
He adds that Smith's Genie is more self-aware. "I like the fact that our Genie has an ego and is a little bit vain and he cares about how he's presented because he's been doing this for a very long time," he shares.
Talking about Jasmine, Ritchie says the character is revamped to reflect present-day ideals that make her "a more rounded character and maybe not being such a stereotype of the time." Pedrad adds of her on-screen friend, "Jasmine is so resilient and independent in this version, she’s focused on things other than which boy she's going to end up with."
Creating the fictional Agrabah was also quite a challenge for Ritchie and his team, but in the end they managed to create a pleasing backdrop for the musical numbers and other scenes in the film. "It's like Old Hollywood and what making big movies was like in the 1950s," the director says. Smith goes on gushing about Ritchie's work, "He brings a beautiful edge to the look and feel and imagining of Aladdin."
The movie also stars Numan Acar portrays Hakim, Jafar's right-hand man and head of the palace guards. Billy Magnussen joins the cast as a new character, Prince Anders, a suitor and potential husband for Princess Jasmine from the kingdom of Scanland.
The live-action "Aladdin" is scheduled to arrive on May 24, 2019 in the United States. It will feature the original film's songs like "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me" as well as some new songs written by Alan Menken, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
