Disney’s Live-Action ‘Aladdin’ Remake Conjures Director Guy Ritchie
Another of Disney’s many, many,manylive-action remakes is moving forward.Aladdinhas conjured up a new director inGuy Ritchie, who’ll work from a script byJohn August. The news follows last week’s reveal of aMulanrelease dateand last month’s announcement of aLion Kingremake.
Disney’s animatedAladdinwas part of the “Disney Renaissance” of the 1990s. Based on the Middle Eastern folk tale, the story follows a street urchin who comes into possession of a magic lamp. Inside is a genie who offers him three wishes. Aladdin uses those wishes to help woo the princess Jasmine and prevent the evil sorcerer Jafar from becoming the Sultan.
The Hollywood Reporterdescribes Ritchie’sAladdinas “an ambitious and non-traditional” take with a “non-linear” approach. But you can expect the new movie to retain some of the beloved elements of the original, including many of the musical elements. This seems to be a separate project fromtheGeniesspinoffthat was in development as of last year.
Still unclear is how the newAladdinwill approach the Genie, who was so memorably played by Robin Williams in the 1992 film. Interestingly, while there’stons of unused materialleft over from Williams' recording sessions, Williams reportedlyleft behind a willthat prevents Disney from using any of it for the next two decades.
Ritchie has recently spent a lot of time revitalizing classic properties. His credits include the twoSherlock Holmesmovies starring Robert Downey Jr. and last year’s (overlooked but very delightful)The Man From U.N.C.L.E.Next out from him will beKing Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which takes a grittier approach to the classic legends.
Dan Lin, who worked with Ritchie on theSherlock Holmesmovies, will produceAladdin. No release date has been announced, though Disney has a few dates already set aside for all of its live-action fairy tales.
