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Disney is struggling to cast its live-action Aladdin.

T

torre_avenue

Banned
Per THR:
Disney's magic carpet ride has hit a bit of turbulence.

The studio and Aladdin director Guy Ritchie launched a global casting call in March to find the stars for the musical based on the hit 1992 animated film about a street kid who teams with a genie to woo the princess Jasmine. Disney, Ritchie and casting director Randi Hiller brought on casting directors around the world, from London to Egypt to Abu Dhabi and India, for what sources say is a massive global search: Around 2,000 actors and actresses have read for the lead roles of Jasmine and Aladdin.
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But finding a male lead in his 20s who can act and sing has proven difficult — especially since the studio wants someone of Middle-Eastern or Indian descent (the animated film is set in the fictional Middle Eastern city of Agrabah). The original casting call specified that production was slated to begin by July, but the search has dragged on, with Disney and Ritchie having to go back to the drawing board multiple times. Sources say there have been several rounds of tests in London, with the actors coming in for up to two weeks at a time. "The test process was a mess," says one agent with a client who tested.

While the studio had interest in Dev Patel, 27, and Riz Ahmed, 34, the male lead will likely be a newcomer. Sources say the studio is eyeing Power Rangers actress Naomi Scott, 24, or Indian actress Tara Sutaria, 21, to play Jasmine, but can't lock the deal until the male lead has been selected since chemistry is so important to the story. (Will Smith is signed on to play the Genie, and sources say the studio is after known names for the role of the villain Jafar).

Among the newcomers who were still in the running for the riffraff/street rat in the most recent rounds of testing were Dutch actor Achraf Koutet, Canadian actor Mena Massoud and American George Kosturos.
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As is the case with Aladdin, Disney is also committed to finding culturally appropriate leads for its other live-action feature, Mulan, focusing its casting search in mainland China.

With shooting for Aladdin now planned to start in August, Disney may have to use all three of its wishes to find its diamond in the rough.
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On one hand, I commend Disney for really going the extra mile and exhausting all the options they have to find their Aladdin. But on the other, if Disney can't find an Aladdin that meets their standards after seeing 2,000 applicants, where does the fault lie? Disney for stringent standards? The applicants for not being good enough? The hyper-PC SJWs that forced Disney to waste time and effort by throwing a hissy-fit at the prospect of a street rat from the Middle East being blond-haired and blue-eyed, just like our Lord Jesus Christ? (Hint: it's not that last one.)

Send me into a magic sand tiger cave if old.
 
It's almost as if there isn't a regular flow of middle eastern talent into the Hollywood system for some reason.
 
Jeez how hard is it. Tom Cruise as Aladdin, Emma Stone as Jasmine, Jack Black as Genie and Ben Kingsley as Jafar. Money now Disney.
 
torre_avenue said:
On one hand, I commend Disney for really going the extra mile and exhausting all the options they have to find their Aladdin. But on the other, if Disney can't find an Aladdin that meets their standards after seeing 2,000 applicants, where does the fault lie? Disney for stringent standards? The applicants for not being good enough? The hyper-PC SJWs that forced Disney to waste time and effort by throwing a hissy-fit at the prospect of a street rat from the Middle East being blond-haired and blue-eyed, just like our Lord Jesus Christ? (Hint: it's not that last one.)

Send me into a magic sand tiger cave if old.
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It's what happens when you don't foster an inclusive acting community as leads in a diverse country like America, and immigrants or first or 2nd generation people of color don't believe acting is a career worth pursuing. It becomes cyclical.
 
ugh who would have thought it would be so hard to cast unknown middle eastern actors when hollywood has been so supportive
 
Aren't there any in Bollywood? If they can't sing in English, have subtitles in the movie.

Edit: Oh shit Aladdin doesn't take place in India? My bad.
 
Hiring Pakistanis/Indians to play arabs.
I know the asian population in london is huge, but finding a middle-eastern shouldn't be difficult. Heck, I know a boy who would be desperate.
 
Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed would be cool, but yeah I can see that they'd probably want someone younger.

But it is great to see that they're actually going for race this time and not browning up a white actor.
 
BocoDragon said:
It's almost as if there isn't a regular flow of middle eastern talent into the Hollywood system for some reason.
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Whoever ends up playing Aladdin will have both their pre-Aladdin and post-Aladdin career consist of playing Jihadi Terrorist #3.

Well, maybe Disney will give them some meaty roles as thanks for letting them do a PC Aladdin.
 
torre_avenue said:
Per THR:



On one hand, I commend Disney for really going the extra mile and exhausting all the options they have to find their Aladdin. But on the other, if Disney can't find an Aladdin that meets their standards after seeing 2,000 applicants, where does the fault lie? Disney for stringent standards? The applicants for not being good enough? The hyper-PC SJWs that forced Disney to waste time and effort by throwing a hissy-fit at the prospect of a street rat from the Middle East being blond-haired and blue-eyed, just like our Lord Jesus Christ? (Hint: it's not that last one.)

Send me into a magic sand tiger cave if old.
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Who knew it would be hard to hire certain people that are shunned in your industry. I know they will take their time, because they know the hell they will catch if they fuck up
 
THIS is the problem of no diversity before ... if it was normal to cast diverse actors than you would already have better ones.
 
J_Viper said:
Jake Gyllenhaal incoming
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I'm sure if Disney wanted then they'd probably be able to find a Bollywood actor in their 20s or early 30s who would do well (there are a few who are good). But they probably want someone new who hasn't been seen before and someone in their early 20s.
 
Nesotenso said:
Why are they casting Indians/South Asians as Middle Easterners though?
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South Asians are probably close to or already the number one ethnicity in the region, although this is a relatively modern development.

The bigger likelihood is that there are many South Asians who could easily pass as middle eastern.
 
nOoblet16 said:
I'm sure if Disney wanted then they'd probably be able to find a Bollywood actor in their 20s or early 30s who would do well (there are a few who are good). But they probably want someone new who hasn't been seen before and someone in their early 20s.
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To an average American audience a Bollywood actor is new.
 
Platy said:
THIS is the problem of no diversity before ... if it was normal to cast diverse actors than you would already have better ones.
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Plus America would find the one's they prefer here. I guarantee you some of the issues are about how well they can act and speak English without a harsh accent for American and Global audiences.
 
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