Indie studio The Asylum, the company behind mockbusters such as Transmorphers, Atlantic Rim, Independents’ Day, Tomb Invader and Snakes on a Train, is kicking off production on its own version of Aladdin.
The movie, which will presumably be timed to coincide with the release of Disney’s live-action remake, will be based upon the original public domain story from One Thousand and One Nights. While the movie will include Aladdin and the Genie, it won’t be able to incorporate the Disney-created character Jasmine and Jafar – instead, it’s just created its own knock-off versions called Shahzadi and Vizier Maghreb.
Via Slash Film, here’s the casting breakdown for the movie, which also includes some major spoilers:
- Aladdin: 21 to 29 years old, all ethnicities male. Arab acrobat street performer. Part of a troupe. Smart, funny, honest. Juggles, VERY athletic. and strong.
- Shahzadi: 21 to 29 years old, all ethnicities female. Daughter of the Sultan. Beautiful, resourceful and intelligent. She takes over after the passing of her father. Bears the burdens of royalty, but secretly longs for a simpler life.
- Vizier Maghreb: 45 to 65 years old, all ethnicities male. Minister to the Sultan and then to the Sultana upon her father’s death. He covets power and the legendary lamp. He hires Aladdin to get it for him. He uses magic and consorts with dark spirits. His goal is to rule the world with Shahzadi at his side. Falls to his death off a cliff.
- Genie: 25 to 65 years old, all ethnicities male. Friendly, affable and smart unless you’re on his shit list. Loyal to his friends. Open to actors with non-traditional looks – including those with large, “sumo-sized” body frames.
- Naveena: 18 to 25 years old, all ethnicities female. Arab acrobat street performer. Part of a troupe. Samad’s younger sister. The baby of the group. Intelligent. Carries an unrequited torch for Aladdin who treats her like a baby sister.
- Samad: 21 to 29 years old, all ethnicities male. Arab acrobat street performer. Part of a troupe. level-headed member of the team. Torn to pieces in the desert while on a mission to stop Maghreb. Open to actors with non-traditional looks.
- Zamir: 25 to 40 years old, all ethnicities male. Arab Musician of the street performer group. Plays flute and/or drums. Snarky member of the team. Killed by Maghreb’s dragon. Open to actors with non-traditional looks.
- Dariush: 21 to 40 years old, all ethnicities male. LITTLE PERSON. Street performer of the acrobat group. Eldest of the group. Given to quoting Islamic religious phrases (his friends believe that he makes them up on the fly). Dies in quicksand in the desert while on a mission to stop Maghreb.
Disney’s Aladdin is being directed by Guy Ritchie (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword) and features a cast that includes Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Naomi Scott (Princess Jasmine), Will Smith (Genie), Marwan Kenzari (Jafar), Navid Negahban (The Sultan), Nasim Pedrad (Dalia); Billy Magnussen (Prince Anders) and Numan Acar (Hakim). It is set for release on May 24th 2019.
Originally published January 12, 2019. Updated January 13, 2019.
