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Disney is struggling to cast its live-action Aladdin.
- Thread starter torre_avenue
- Start date
There are more South Asian actors than any other actors from other "brown" ethnicity this is due to the huge population + the Indian film industry being absolutely massive. Middle Eastern film industries are like minor league in comparison and you will be hard pressed to find adequate amount of young talent there in comparison to what you can find from India.
At this rate, they'd probably never cast this movie if they just looked at middle easterners.
SocksAndShoes
Banned
Damn, that's a good pull right there.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
I guess Jake Gyllenhaal and Emma Stone are busy.
I'm confused. Disney's looking for actors from around the world, not just within Hollywood. Or are you saying because Middle Easterners don't have a good history with Hollywood, they wouldn't have the means to get in touch with Disney?
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
Arab character (in this version).
Indian actors.
OK.
Indian actors.
OK.
Honestly, he'd be a pretty good choice.
lightskintwin
Banned
Hollywood: Close enough
Ninja Scooter
Member
Aladdin isn't Indian. You might as well cast a Mexican if the only qualification seems to be "is Brown".
I find it hard to believe that the combination of acting and singing skills is specific to non-middle eastern men. I feel like this might be an instance where, even though they have the best of intentions, some subconscious bias may be affecting how they judge the people auditioning...
Also, Disney, please don't hire a 30 year old Aladdin to pair with a 21 year old Jasmine.
Also, Disney, please don't hire a 30 year old Aladdin to pair with a 21 year old Jasmine.
DizzyCaffeine
Member
Guy Ritchie is such a weird choice for director. The only romantic comedy he's ever made, Swept Away, was the Golden Raspberry award winner for Worst Picture.
He's saying this wouldnt be an issue if the farm system was cultivated before hand. But instead all of the pitching prospects and recruits are all white people. When you need that 1 non white actor you have nowhere to go
Rookje
Member
The practice of hiring someone of the exact ethnicity to play a character is ridiculous, the peak of political correctness. I'd rather have someone talented than the exact ethnicity.
lightskintwin
Banned
I mean approximates work in Hollywood. As long as they look the part.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
"Close enough." - Hollywood
He can't really act though. He was pretty bad on Victorious
It's a problem of both. Hollywood spending decades within their own bubble pushing their preferred actors and now that we're in a bit of a crossing point when it comes to inclusion, both they and any agencies that don't work within the hollywood circuits are finding it difficult to come together in a reasonable, meaningful, and moreover, time and cost effective way. Disney has to shotgun auditions and people have to come off the streets to go to said auditions.
There are no paved avenues for anyone to go down for this sort of thing for a very large number of reasons that haven't gone way so much as they've been pushed aside for this production.
Hollywood does not, nor will they ever, care about that.
Do Jake Gyllenhaal.
It bothers me a whole lot that for this casting process it doesn't seem to matter what ethnicity and culture one belongs to as long as there a shade of brown
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
Aladdin was not of Indian descent. This is like having a casting call for someone to play a Spaniard and going 'eh, Russian, close enough'.
lightskintwin
Banned
Disney, just like Marvel and Star Wars, will have tight reign over there directors.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I was referring more to that poster labeling "is Indian" as a qualification. How much of it is what you are describing (which I agree with tbh) and how much is people actually not realizing that there is a difference between Indian and middle eastern?
lol the comments.
I imagine that they require them to speak perfect english which probably reduces the options a lot.
Not like middle eastern actors have been promoted a lot in the US.
kunonabi
Member
There is more than enough talent out there if you look hard enough to have both most of the time.
They're gonna have a hell of a time casting the Lion King
Gunslinger
Member
If they want Indian descent that can act and sing shouldn't they look toward Bollywood. I mean large chunks of their movies are musicals aren't they? I haven't watched a Hindi movie in 15+ years so it may have changed now.
Rookje
Member
You read the article? Disney is fine with an Indian actor. I was merely giving a suggestion based on their criteria.
D
Deleted member 231381
Unconfirmed Member
In the oldest versions of Aladdin, he wasn't even Arabic, he was (probably) a Muslim Turk living in the Tarim Basin. You'd be closer by guessing he was Hui and casting a Chinese actor than going with someone Indian.
lightskintwin
Banned
I'm pretty certain Language and fluency as well as clarity is probably the biggest issue after finding somebody who looks the part, can act and sing. Not certain if they're going for American accented English.
Ordinaryundone
Member
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Nathan Fillion.
There, how hard was that?
There, how hard was that?
Oh they will. Regardless of who they cast, this is going to be a 500 million dollar movie. If they cast it right, it could scratch against 800-900 million. People love these live action remakes, regardless of how bad they are.
SiegfriedFM
Member
Well, they did manage to find Auli'i for Moana so it's not impossible to find great talent outside Hollywood, but I guess it's even harder with live acting.
BTW, when does Aladdin dance?
BTW, when does Aladdin dance?
thecouncil
Banned
I dont think Naveen has been an option since 10 years before the original animated one.