The INSIDER Summary:
- Disney announced its new cast for the live-action «Aladdin» at its D23 Expo on Saturday.
- Mena Massoud will play Aladdin, Naomi Scott was cast as Jasmine, and Will Smith was cast as Genie.
- Some people were furious over the casting.
- It started a larger conversation about representation in Hollywood.
On Saturday at Disney’s D23 Expo, the official cast of the live-action remake of «Aladdin» was officially announced.
Mena Massoud will play Aladdin, Naomi Scott was cast as Jasmine, and Will Smith will also star as the Genie.
Mena Massoud will play Aladdin. IMDb and Disney
will smith genie aladdin
The news came after earlier reports that Disney was having a hard time casting for the part of Aladdin. According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources suggested that there was an issue finding someone who was right for the role and could sing, dance, and act. Many fans were flummoxed that Disney couldn’t find a star.
But instead of being thrilled that Disney had selected its cast, many people on Twitter were upset by the choices.
IM PISSED AT THE ALADDIN CASTING. AS AN ARAB GIRL I WAS REALLY EXCITED FOR SOME REPRESENTATION SMH I HATE HOLLYWOOD #aladdin
— em 🙂 (@awk5SOSward) July 15, 2017
Not to hate on the person they chose to play Aladdin but like you could’ve picked Dev Patel or Avan Jogia
—clam (@hexgurI) July 16, 2017
I like Will Smith, but I have no interest in watching him as Genie in Aladdin.
— Omar Jackson (@Drakulus23) July 16, 2017
apparently disney have actually cast a white non arab jasmine for aladdin? pic.twitter.com/7dM6g4x7Us
— indie (@COCONUTOILBAE) July 15, 2017
View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
This is Naomi Scott. She is Indian, and white.
This is Jasmine, she is middle eastern. And not white. #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/MTvfQvyaMt
— Hamza Mussé (@HamzaMusse) July 15, 2017
For weeks Arab twitter and desi twitter was making threads about who should play Jasmine in Aladdin and they gave it to some white girl, L https://t.co/KfaJWKsnr2
— ahmed® (@Baeobab) July 16, 2017
Hollywood can find a million arabs to play terrorist but couldn't find one Arab to play Princess Jasmine in Aladdin ?
— Liz The Kidd ??✨ (@KM_Heartbreaker) July 16, 2017
People were especially critical of Scott as Jasmine. Though some fans called her «white,» others pointed out that the 24-year-old actress is of Indian as well as British descent.
View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
I'm still baffled y'all wanted Avan who's Indian-White as #Aladdin but hate on Naomi Scott as Jasmine bc she's Indian-white?? Hello sexism? pic.twitter.com/fEMUyMrPOV
— li (@liligaoh) July 16, 2017
All the hate Naomi Scott us getting is ridiculous, just a few days ago y'all wanted Avan Jogia to play Aladdin and he's not Arab either???
— ??Cyndi Harris?? (@Cyn_Harris1) July 15, 2017
It sparked a larger, complicated conversation on Hollywood casting, with some people taking sides over whether or not the «Aladdin» actors should be of Indian or Middle Eastern descent. The point was made that technically, though the Disney animated version of Aladdin pulls from Middle Eastern and Indian iconography and geography, the original story originated from China.
see im not sure whether aladdin is arab or chinese but pic.twitter.com/ppm1qsGUn2
— marwan (@kingdomecxme) July 16, 2017
If Disney was going for 100% accuracy, they would've cast a Chinese actor to be Aladdin . . . Sooooooooo
— Joshua Sosa (@DrLoreJosh) July 16, 2017
Aladdin was added to a thousand and one nights by a white guy who heard a story about a Chinese Aladdin from a Syrian man.
— kiitan ??? (@Kiitannextdoor) July 16, 2017
historically Aladdin is Chinese but in the Disney version he's from a MADE UP city so I really don't see why it matters
— pris (@ladycatacorn) July 16, 2017
Some people were also unsure of Will Smith as Genie, a role that was famously held by Robin Williams in the animated classic.
No offense to Will Smith but Robin Williams will always be Genie. Nobody else can compare.
— Shawn (@yupandyeah) July 16, 2017
I think the live action Aladdin is gonna be the best Disney remake yet JUST LOOK AT THAT CAST I LOVE NAOMI SCOTT
— alexa (@alexadione) July 16, 2017
everyone doesn't like the Aladdin cast, but i sure do LOVE IT! it's a heck of a cast and they will slayyyyy??
— talks about sol (@AdoringSofia_) July 16, 2017
i love complaining about the aladdin cast but i already know my ass is gonna be in that theatre singing along
— jace ?? (@rilayaaaah) July 16, 2017
«Aladdin» is not the only live-action movie that Disney has made. Previously, Disney has made live-action versions of both «The Jungle Book» as well as «Beauty and the Beast,» which starred Emma Watson as Belle.
It also has a live-action «Lion King» and «Mulan» slated in the coming few years, and showed fans at D23 a preview of its upcoming movies, including «Mary Poppins,» «A Wrinkle In Time,» and behind-the-scenes footage from the upcoming «Star Wars» film.
You can see everything Disney announced through 2019 here
