Production Starts On Aladdin Live Action, Will Smith Takes Cast Selfie

It’s a whole new world out there and that world has taken one step changing one of Walt Disney‘s ‘classic’ animations becomes a live action movie. Today the news was announced that Aladdin, is now in production and the cast took one big selfie to celebrate the news.

Will Smith today shared the pictorial moment with the world, which also gave us the first look the other cast members. Smith is joined by Mena Massoud who is Aladdin, Naomi Scott is Princess Jasmine. Also in the image Marwan Kenzari who’ll be Jafar, and not forgetting smith himself as the lovable Genie.

The production itself kicked off in London with Guy Ritchie directing the new version for Disney Pictures. His first movie since the frightfully terrible King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword. He’ll be hoping for not just better box office success but critical success too.

He has big boots to fill and a lot of expectations as Aladdin was a big success for Disney in 1992, loved by the fans. The big question is, are the fans happy with the casting? If they are or not it looks like the movie has already been criticised for its casting choices. Accused of ‘whitewashing’ by some critics, a now common attack on many movies with non-white characters played by white actors. As ever we’ll judge any criticisms when we see the movie ourselves.

Other cast members include Navid Negahban (Homeland) as the Sultan, of Jasmine; Nasim Pedrad (Saturday Night Live) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s hand maiden and confidante; ; and Numan Acar (Homeland) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and head of the palace guards. There is also a new character Billy Magnussen (Into the Woods) as Prince Anders, a suitor from Skanland and potential husband for Princess Jasmine.

If Aladdin is a success Mulan and The Lion King are the next in line for live action adaptations.

Aladdin has no confirmed release date yet.