Funny enough, at La La Land's Tokyo premiere, the Japanese press joked that they'd love to see Gosling play a samurai or ninja.
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Disney is struggling to cast its live-action Aladdin.
- Thread starter torre_avenue
- Start date
Funny enough, at La La Land's Tokyo premiere, the Japanese press joked that they'd love to see Gosling play a samurai or ninja.
lightskintwin
Banned
A successful rapper who's made it as a comedic TV actor, to an action movie star that has successfully done comedic and dramatic roles, with more natural charisma than most lead actors has more than enough range to play a Genie.
I can't believe you're elevating the role to such lofty heights.
Yeah me too - best choice out there (that I know of)
Arab Twitter is already upset. I personally would like an Arab cast as well, but it wouldn't be the end of the world since Aladdin is a cultural mess anyway.
What I'm upset about is that Hollywood never has a problem finding someone to play a terrorist.
TakumiTrueno
Neo Member
Just curious, if I wanted to, how would I try audition?
womfalcs3
Banned
Terrorists don't have to be 20-something actors who can sing and act. Anybody would do well to just walk and act angrily.
Like Aladdin story was set in China and it's not like India wasn't ruled by Muslim at one point, with Sultan, the architecture, and all.
Fair point. Other Disney movies didn't require that standard though.
If I had a penny every time someone said "BUT IT'S CHINESE" to everyone calling for a Middle Eastern cast...(no offense).
Look, the story is set in the Middle East, with Middle Eastern names, Middle Eastern looking people, depicting Middle Eastern mythology.
Do these actors speak good english? I imagine that's a requirement.
That's of course true, but that means it has more to do with the history of those two countries than with ethnicity.
Dragon Puncher
Member
Guy Ritchie completely butchered the King Arthur and havn't made a good movie since the first Sherlock Holmes.
I have zero faith in this even if it's cool that they are going for culturally appropriate actors.
I have zero faith in this even if it's cool that they are going for culturally appropriate actors.
Tbh, Disney movies don't really require you to be able to sing. They'll just use autotune like with Emma Watson.
Messofanego
Banned
Rami Malek got this in the bag.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzaGMQOaFv4
He's gonna be playing Freddie Mercury.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzaGMQOaFv4
He's gonna be playing Freddie Mercury.
miller.skippins
Banned
clearly you jest and am supposed to type Keira Knightley.
Samuel L Jackson will be dope as the Genie.
Justin Bieber guest star as Abu.
damn you for making me regret being on this timeline
What the hell kind of point are you trying to make here? Did OP just have an aneurysm while typing and collapse on his trackpad while the cursor was hovering over the "post" button?
EDIT: I feel like I saw 23 different arab actors in La La Land alone singing and dancing in the background. What the hell is Disney looking for?
LegendofJoe
Member
If not for the Islamic Revolution in Iran I'd be willing to bet they'd have a thriving film industry there. You can always count on religious conservatives to make life worse, regardless of the country/religion.
That said there is a HUGE Persian community in Los Angeles. Why isn't Disney also looking right at home in Hollywood for their Aladdin?
That said there is a HUGE Persian community in Los Angeles. Why isn't Disney also looking right at home in Hollywood for their Aladdin?
WaterAstro
Member
Samuel L. Jackson as Aladdin
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
They might as well try and fit Cliff Curtis in there since he already is asked to play every ethnicity in between white and black.
They don't exactly hold open auditions for Disney blockbusters.
They don't exactly hold open auditions for Disney blockbusters.
I love situations like this.
More and more people should be hit by this realization that the something that has been bothering them since they come to existence is getting clearer day by day.
That they are of lower worth in this current culture climate, and that they were the ones who collectively give power and influential to people who dictate this inequality.
Yeah but then they have him say a word in Arabic and we're like, "who the fuck is this guy?!"
KoopaTheCasual
Junior Member
Well yea, I'm glad that Disney wants to knock the casting out of the park, but damn, this is one hell of a search.
Hope it works out, but obvious concessions are going to have to be made. But honestly, if an Oscar Nominated South East Asian actor (Dev Patel) is your back-up plan, I can't see this movie being horrible miss-casted/poorly handled.
Hope it works out, but obvious concessions are going to have to be made. But honestly, if an Oscar Nominated South East Asian actor (Dev Patel) is your back-up plan, I can't see this movie being horrible miss-casted/poorly handled.
Maybe i could be Aladdin, I'm only 1/8th Yemeni, but Arabic was my first language
The problem is Arabs have very little representation in Hollywood. So when one of our own stories gets the big Hollywood treatment, it is shitty as hell for the roles to be given to non Arab brown people. South Asians already have a much larger representation than we do. From brown actors in Hollywood movies, to comedians, and to the small screen. We're either cast as villains, or have our roles given to latinos or Indians.
We want representation. The nerves for some people to think, "well just put any brown person into the role, they'll be happy right?!" We don't have many people like us playing these roles. And for the longest time, we've been type cast (the roles themselves) as the terrorists, or the oil sheiks, or the sleazy Gulf Arab trying to buy Liam Neeson's daughter. It sucks.
We want representation. The nerves for some people to think, "well just put any brown person into the role, they'll be happy right?!" We don't have many people like us playing these roles. And for the longest time, we've been type cast (the roles themselves) as the terrorists, or the oil sheiks, or the sleazy Gulf Arab trying to buy Liam Neeson's daughter. It sucks.
lightskintwin
Banned
That's where the "acting" part comes in.
I get the representation part, but is this Disney version of Aladdin filled with Broadway pop songs and a Genie that makes American references and American celebrity impressions really "your story"?
I can get the point. Robin Williams was a comedian of a very different stripe than Smith is, even in his comedic elements.
I dunno whether it's a good idea to try and bring someone with the same mentality as Williams to the role or not (who would that be at this point in the comedy world?), or go in a different direction as they seem to be—part of what makes these adaptations so weird to me is they're stuck in this twilight zone of hewing to the originals while having to justify their existence, and thus far I think they haven't done anything that's made me think "yes it was a great idea they did a live action version."
Then that's the fault of the production for not getting vocal coaches and the like.
Dude, we have to start somewhere lol. At this point, we'll take whatever we've got. If this can lead to a big break out role for a few Arab actors, it's a positive start. But we won't ever cultivate this if people aren't given a chance.
lightskintwin
Banned
Oh no doubt, I think going in another direction is the best way to handle genie rather than creating a second rate Robin Williams version of it. Will Smith has the big personality and charisma to make it his own
Although as somebody mentioned above, Jamie Foxx might've been the better choice, he's a comedian, a good actor, can sing, and do impressions of a lot of celebrities really well.
LOL Ok, You right. I'm on team Arab for Aladdin.
Considering Hollywood has never cared about this before, I've got very little faith they're going to suddenly start focusing on ensuring that their non Arab actors can say Arabic words properly.
GraveRobberX
Platinum Trophy: Learned to Shit While Upright Again.
People do realize most Bollywood actors/actresses including SRK don't have great singing voices
Most of the songs sung are just playbacks
Disney at least hoping Aladdin can sing his own songs...
Most of the songs sung are just playbacks
Disney at least hoping Aladdin can sing his own songs...
BreezyLimbo
Banned
Easiest way would be to get an agent
Theres a site called backstage you can try..but specifically trying for a part might be hard to get.
If you have a good singing voice and looks, do a video of singing a song from alladin and get an agent asap who can send that tape to the right places. Dont sign any contracts that have you pay at the start, as those tend to be scams.
lightskintwin
Banned
Has anybody ever made a Chinese version of Aladdin?
Just_myles
Member
Wonder if regular casting calls are this thorough. lol
The besides the original? No clue.
Will Smith as the Genie is like the only possible option as far as I can see. It's honestly kind of genius casting. Is there anyone else out there with the charm, the name and the comedy and acting chops to replace Robin Williams?
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
lightskintwin
Banned
Arabian Nights miniseries with Jason Scott Lee as Aladdin.
Did you watch it? If so, is it worth watching today?
In blackface
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
I watched it over ten years ago (it aired in 2000) and I thought it was decent. Not sure how it holds up.
This.
Either Dev Patel or Danny Pudi. Now come on Disney give me and the rest of gaf our commission already.
Why do some of you keep casting Indian people in a non-Indian role?