If you’re eagerly awaiting the live-action remake of Disney’s Aladdin, there are significantly fewer than 1001 nights until it hits the big screen. With the release now just a couple of months away, a new teaser has revealed something fans of the original have long been waiting to see – Will Smith as the Genie. We’ve seen him in more human form in a smattering early images, but the latest look at Guy Ritchie’s take shows Smith in full, floaty, blue form. Watch it below.
Let’s start this by saying that following up the inimitable Robin Williams was always going to be an incredibly tough act – not to mention the challenges of bringing the outwardly cartoonish shape-shifting genie to live(-ish) action. With that in mind, response to this look at Smith’s genie has been mixed so far – there is something a little uncanny in the way the character moves here. Still, Smith is an incredibly charismatic performer when he’s on peak form, so here's hoping Aladdin can bring that to the fore.
Smith is starring alongside Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, with Marwan Kenzari playing Jafar. Ritchie’s film will incorporate some of the classic songs from the 1992 animation, and will also include two brand-new songs from Disney songwriting legend Alan Menken, and writing duo Pasek & Paul. Aladdin will hit UK cinemas on 24 May.
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