Disney has released a new TV spot for its upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie, and it offers our first look at Will Smith as Genie. Mena Massoud stars as the street-rat-with-a-heart-of-gold Aladdin, with Naomi Scott as the beautiful and determined Princess Jasmine. The movie will feature a new repertoire of songs by Alan Menken and La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Menken originally collaborated with Howard Ashman and Tim Rice for the music in the 1992 animated version).
This new TV spot is fine, but I’m not all that excited for Ritchie’s take on Aladdin. It’s very sparkly and shiny, but it also throws into stark relief that Aladdin is a tough adaptation. That’s not to diminish what other directors accomplished, but Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast seem far easier by comparison when you look at the unique alchemy that created the 1992 original. I’m also not convinced that Ritchie was the right director to handle this adaptation, so every piece of Aladdin marketing just serves to create more questions instead of excitement.
Check out the TV spot below. The film opens in theaters on May 24, 2019 and also stars Marwan Kenzari as Jafar, Navid Negahban as the Sultan, Nasim Pedrad as Jasmine’s handmaiden, Billy Magnussen as a potential suitor for the Princess, and Numan Acar as Jafar’s right-hand man.
Here’s the official synopsis for Aladdin:
A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “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, “Aladdin” is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith as the Genie; Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia; Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim.