‘Aladdin’ Director Would Bring Will Smith Back as Genie for Live-Action Sequel
Director Guy Richie has shared that he would gladly have actor Will Smith return as Genie for Disney’s planned ‘Aladdin’ live-action sequel, despite controversy surrounding the actor after his actions at The Academy Awards earlier this year.
Richie shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “I never saw anything other than the consummate, generous gentleman. I wouldn’t have any issue casting Will Smith in anything, because, as I say, he was just the f—ing perfect gentleman.”
Related: Will Smith Banned from The Academy Awards Ceremony and Events for 10 Years
Recently, Will Smith addressed his behavior while making a guest appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “That was a horrific night, as you can imagine. There are many nuances and complexities to it. But, at the end of the day, I lost it, and I guess what I would say: You just never know what somebody’s going through, you know?”
Smith continued, “I was going through something that night. Not that that justifies my behavior at all. You’re asking, what did I learn? It’s that we’ve just gotta be nice to each other, man. It’s hard. I guess the thing that was most painful for me is, I took my hard and made it hard for other people. I understood the idea of when they say ‘hurt people hurt people.’”
Related: Disney Shares That Live-Action ‘Aladdin’ Sequel Will NOT Follow ‘Return of Jafar’ Storyline
Currently, the ‘Aladdin’ live-action sequel is in pre-production, with the tentative release date expected for May 23, 2025. The film will star Naomi Scott (Jasmine) and Mena Massoud (Aladdin), with a script written by Andrea Berloff and John Gatins. Guy Richie is currently set to return as the film’s director. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things Disney!
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