Originally published April 19, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
It was a little while ago that we heard Will Smith was up for a role in Tim Burton’s live-action Dumbo and while that may have fallen through, it seems he could appear in another live-action Disney project. Deadline has reported the actor may join Guy Ritchie’s live-action Aladdin for Disney, taking on the role that was made famous by the late Robin Williams in the 1992 animated film.
Nothing is finalized yet as Smith has only begun early talks with the studio to star in the film, but we can expect to hear something soon. Aladdin will begin production this summer in the U.K. for a shoot that will reportedly last for six months.
Ritchie will direct from a script written by John August, the scribe who funny enough worked with Burton on Big Fish. Much like the Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast live-action remakes, Aladdin will follow the story of the animated classic that sees street thief Aladdin come into possession of a magic lamp containing Genie, a powerful and magical entity. With his help he transforms his life to woo Princess Jasmine even as the evil Jafar plots to usurp the throne.
