The genie sings it best: “You ain’t never had a friend like me.” And that’s exactly how ALADDIN star Mena Massoud feels about his co-star, Will Smith, now that the two have collaborated on Guy Ritchie’s upcoming live-action take of the classic tale.
“It's a dream come true,” Massoud told AMC during a recent exclusive interview. “I grew up watching Will and his films, I think like most of us, and to be able to go on this journey with him is amazing. I couldn't have dreamed for anything bigger or brighter than that.” In ALADDIN, which just put its tickets on sale, Mena Massoud stars as the titular street urchin who unlocks a whole new world when he uncovers a lamp that contains a wish-granting genie. In the animated classic from Walt Disney, Robin Williams played the fast-talking genie. Guy Ritchie, though, cast the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as our new Genie, and Massoud told AMC that the larger-than-life movie star was exactly how you would imagine.
In ALADDIN, which just put its tickets on sale, Mena Massoud stars as the titular street urchin who unlocks a whole new world when he uncovers a lamp that contains a wish-granting genie. In the animated classic from Walt Disney, Robin Williams played the fast-talking genie. Guy Ritchie, though, cast the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as our new Genie, and Massoud told AMC that the larger-than-life movie star was exactly how you would imagine.
“He's just an amazing human being,” Massoud said. “You know, I think often when you're meeting idols of yours, or people you've looked up to, there's a little bit of pressure there because you hope they turn out to be the people that you want them to be. And he doesn't disappoint. He's so generous and grounded, and he gave me a lot of advice throughout the whole process.”
Disney has been active with live-action remakes of their animated classics as of late. Tim Burton released a new DUMBO in March, which followed up massive Disney hits in THE JUNGLE BOOK, CINDERELLA, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. These are not shot-for-shot remakes of the animated movies, but re-imaginings that follow the fabric of what the classics did.
It sounds like ALADDIN will follow that same formula, delivering the songs and scenes you love from the 1992 Oscar®-winning animated feature, while also taking a few detours that Guy Ritchie wants it to follow. When AMC asked Mena Massoud his favorite scene that he shot with Will Smith, he laid out this scenario. “There's one scene where we kind of improv the whole scene and it's in the film, so you'll get to see it,” he said. “It’s the first time that the genie and Prince Ali get to meet the royal family. So, it's quite a fun sequence. And again, getting to be able to improv with Will Smith, that's a dream come true.”
“Friend Like Me” and “A Whole New World” should have audiences feeling like they are riding on a magic carpet of nostalgia once again, so prepare for the May 24 release of Walt Disney’s ALADDIN by grabbing your tickets, which are on sale right now.
