We have a brand new behind-the-scenes video fromAladdinthat further reveals Disney’s upcoming remake. It’s been quite the day for those who are excited, or at the very least curious, about the latest reimagining of one of Disney’s animated classics. A ton of new photos and pieces of info made their way online, offering us ourfirst look at Will Smith’s Genie, which has generated a lot of attention. But that’s just one piece of a very large puzzle, as this video shows us.
More than anything, this video gives a true sense of scope.Aladdinlooks like it’s going to be a massive, colorful spectacle. The images themselves are sometimes difficult to process because they lack context. In this case, we see everything in motion and it all makes a bit more sense. Everything is grand in scale. There are also some very faithful bits fans will recognize from the animated version, such as our titular character being chased through the streets of Agrabah. In the video, Will Smith is beaming with his signature positivity and has this to say.
“Aladdin is one of those perfect stories. You don’t know how you know every word of the songs. You just do.”
While we still don’t see much of him in action here, there is plenty to absorb. The action is largely focused onAladdin, who isplayed by relative newcomer Mena Massoud, and Jasmine, played byPower Rangersstar Naomi Scott. In as much as there is pressure on Will Smith to live up towhat Robin Williams did as Geniein the 1992 animated version, this movie absolutely won’t work unless these two main characters capture the magic. But as Massoud says in the video, they’re not just trying to repeat the past.
“You want to stay true to the original, but you also want to give people something different.”
Up to this point,Disneyhas hada lot of luck reinventing their animated classicsfor the big screen.Beauty and the Beastwound up grossing more than $1.2 billion worldwide last year to become the highest-grossing movie of 2017.Alice in Wonderland,MaleficentandCinderellahave all also done quite well for the Mouse House.
Next year will be big on that front even outside ofAladdin, as Tim Burton’s live-actionDumbo(March 2019) and Jon Favreau’sThe Lion King(July 2019) are also on deck. Though, there has been some debate over whether or notThe Lion Kingis live-action, as it’s all CGI animals, even though they may look real. But that’s an entirely different story. Hopefully, this will all come together and wind up being a satisfying new take on what came before. Director Guy Ritchie’sAladdinremake is set to arrive in theaters on June 14, 2025. Be sure to check out the brand new behind the scenes video fromEntertainment Weeklybelow.
