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[jett]

I'll never get the obsession Hollywood has now with using the actor's voice for singing when a substitute voice would work well and open up more opportunities. For every Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables or... Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables you get a Russel Crowe, Pierce Brosnan or Emma Watson.

...nah but seriously though Hollywood's lack of diversity has come to bite them in the ass. Watch them just CGI Aladdin and have Tom Hanks or someone voice.

Hell, they did this for Aladdin! I have no idea why they want the same person acting and singing. Who cares.

 

[lightskintwin]

Hell, they did this for Aladdin! I have no idea why they want the same person acting and singing. Who cares.

Animation is different. I personally prefer them find actors who can both sing and act in live action musicals. Not to mention a good amount of Hollywood actors come from Musical theater.

 

[celebi23]

Get Ravi from iZombie for Aladdin, dammit

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

i enjoyed the power rangers movie but Naomi Scott was a terrible actor in it

 

[Friend of Sonic]

Alexander Siddig as Jafar or I riot.

This would delight me.

 

[effzee]

Mr. Robot as Alladin
Sharukh Khan as Jafar
Nargis Fakhri as Jasmine

 

[Fulminator]

I don't understand why they can't pick a female lead and find a male actor who has chemistry with her? Wouldn't that even make the process easier since they already have something to work with?

I guess it kind of makes sense since Aladdin is the main character.

 

[Alo0oy]

Not sure what you're hoping to prove. Neither of these people are some wholly representative average of people from within their respective countries. Especially when you consider the diversity within just India itself. As far as Hollywood is concerned, if actors of color hope to have any opportunities, they're going to have to try and pass where they can. I've been mistaken for Hispanic before, and I'm Pakistani but used to speak relatively recent Spanish. If I could use that to worm my way into getting a role, you bet your ass I would.

India and the Middle East are significantly more diverse than America and other Western countries, I know that, I am Middle Eastern. But people from MENA and people from the Indian Subcontinent have their very own diverse ethnicities and subcultures, and both deserve to be highlighted of course, but it's important that both are represented with people from within those cultures.

Would an Indian actor be better than Gerard Butler and Scarlett Johanssen? Hell yeah, but let's not conflate all brown people into one category and perpetuate the idea that "all browns are the same".

 

[Shaanyboi]

India and the Middle East are significantly more diverse than America and other Western countries, I know that, I am Middle Eastern. But people from MENA and people from the Indian Subcontinent have their very own diverse ethnicities and subcultures, and both deserve to be highlighted of course, but it's important that both are represented with people from within those cultures.

Would an Indian actor be better than Gerard Butler and Scarlett Johanssen? Hell yeah, but let's not conflate all brown people into one category and perpetuate the idea that "all browns are the same".

You're arguing about this in a thread about Disney's Aladdin, which I'm going to guess is probably not going to be all too specific as to where the hell it actually takes place, nor will it be as specific with the casting of where it finds its brown actors.

 

[Rookje]

if they were looking for just "brown" this would have been cast ages ago. they are looking for middle eastern descent and I'm sure it's difficult because of their standards being so high for a small pool of talent of actors since middle eastern people don't get roles so acting isn't a viable career choice.

Read the article, please.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Man if Indians are acceptable I know exactly who I would have cast a few years ago

Rebecca Hazlewood, haven't seen her in anything in a long time though(probably since Outsourced was cancelled).
Heck her Outsourced costar Sacha Dhawan could have been a great Aladdin if he was younger as well.

 

[Miracle]

Kim K as Jasmine

Sure why not?

 

[Makonero]

Get Ravi from iZombie for Aladdin, dammit

he'd be a much better jafar

or jafart

 

[Alo0oy]

You're arguing about this in a thread about Disney's Aladdin, which I'm going to guess is probably not going to be all too specific as to where the hell it actually takes place, nor will it be as specific with the casting of where it finds its brown actors.

Disney's Aladdin is set in "Agrabah", a fictional city based on Baghdad.

According to Musker, composers Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's original version had been set in Baghdad, Iraq. "We kept it Baghdad in our first treatment, and then the Gulf War happened—the first Gulf War. Roy Disney said, 'This can't be in Baghdad.' So, I took letters and did a jumbled anagram and came up with Agrabah," he explained. "We came up with a few alternates. But no, we never thought it was post-apocalyptic, futuristic or in some other time."

http://www.eonline.com/news/706200/...rs-of-the-little-mermaid-aladdin-and-hercules

 

[lightskintwin]

You're arguing about this in a thread about Disney's Aladdin, which I'm going to guess is probably not going to be all too specific as to where the hell it actually takes place, nor will it be as specific with the casting of where it finds its brown actors.

THIS. Disney's Aladdin is more American than anything else. Everything else is mere window dressing to service the story.

Don't get me wrong specific ethnic casting should be the preference when possible, however what's important is getting a guy that LOOKS the part, but can also act, sing, dance and speak English well.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Disney's Aladdin is set in "Agrabah", a fictional city based on Baghdad.

Unless they plan on solely pulling from Iraqi actors, I'm going to say it's probably fair game. It's not like they're getting the widest talent pool to be selective here.

 

[Spyder_Monkey]

Maybe it's a sign that they shouldn't do it then. Live action Aladdin was always going to be a bad idea.

 

[SheSaidNo]

jane lynch as aladdin and jenny slate as jasmin

 

[SchrodingerC]

Or Disney could just rerelease the animated movie into theaters, problem solved.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

Unless they plan on solely pulling from Iraqi actors, I'm going to say it's probably fair game. It's not like they're getting the widest talent pool to be selective here.

Plus Aladdin and Jasmine don't have to be the same ethnicity. He's a street orphan. You can just have literally a 1 sentence line of exposition about his parents being foreigners/he doesn't know where they come from.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Or Disney could just rerelease the animated movie into theaters, problem solved.

Beauty and the Beast did triple the animated movie.
Even adjusted was far more.

 

[13ruce]

Or Disney could just rerelease the animated movie into theaters, problem solved.

I really miss the hand drawn 2D movies (especially Disney ones) sadly everything must be 3D or live action nowadays....

 

[120v]

always figured they'd run into trouble with aladdin... very different world 17 years later. even when casting is sorted out there's going to be a whole bunch of other minefields to cross

 

[duckroll]

How about Dev Patel as Aladdin and Riz Ahmed as Jasmine?

 

[99Luffy]

Yeah. I'm puzzled as to why he was not instantly cast, as Disney always cast the safe but good talent.

Dev in slumdog days sure, hes alot bigger and older looking now though.
Then again the prince disney chose for beauty and the beast looked old as hell so Im not sure what direction theyre going with.

Is that kid that played mowgley a teenager yet?

 

[excelsiorlef]

If they age them up it's the same story and you eliminate the teenage marriage

 

[Wuthering_Heights]

Just get someone who can play the part. I don't care if he's white.

 

[excelsiorlef]

Just get someone who can play the part. I don't care if he's white.

They do and rightfully so.

Don't do the movie if you're going to make them white.

 

[lightskintwin]

Just get someone who can play the part. I don't care if he's white.

How about no.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Watch it be one of the Chrises

Just get someone who can play the part. I don't care if he's white.

Well of course YOU don't lol

 

[wandering]

Hot take incoming: I can't help but feel a wave of unease when they talk about arabs and Indians like they are interchangeable. It's not enough to just be 'brown enough'. It's like trying to pass off Korean as Japanese. Just because most of western audiences can't tell the difference doesn't make it right.

Funnily enough there are Korean movies that do this anyway

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Why does the dude have to sing too? Can't they just dub over the singing parts like in other movies?

 

[Zoe]

Why does the dude have to sing too? Can't they just dub over the singing parts like in other movies?

They already set the precedent with the previous movies.

 

[LordKasual]

Hell, they did this for Aladdin! I have no idea why they want the same person acting and singing. Who cares.

They did this all the time, and nobody complained.

I guess it's something about the actor's ego

 

[Zoe]

They did this all the time, and nobody complained.

I guess it's something about the actor's ego

It's different when you have a face to put with the voice. You really want modern day Milli Vanillis?

 

[hodayathink]

Funnily enough there are Korean movies that do this anyway

Every movie industry does this, we just tend to may more attention and call it out more when it involves underrepresented minorities. African actors are from the wrong countries, so are Europeans (more than anyone since they get more parts than anyone), so are Latin Americans.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

They already set the precedent with the previous movies.

I don't think audiences will really care though. It would still make bank.

Also, why the fuck are they looking for Indians?

 

[The Real Abed]

What about that guy from Fuller House?

Yeah, you know what? Now that I think about it, he does kind of sound like Aladdin from the cartoon!

Spoiler

/s

I'm old too.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Every movie industry does this, we just tend to may more attention and call it out more when it involves underrepresented minorities. African actors are from the wrong countries, so are Europeans (more than anyone since they get more parts than anyone), so are Latin Americans.

My brother told me in the 90s Mexicans were mad when Jennifer Lopez was cast as Selena.

 

[Fancyarcher]

No surprise there. Hollywood's talent of middle-eastern actors is shamefully and unsurprisingly low.

How about Dev Patel as Aladdin and Riz Ahmed as Jasmine?

Complete with a bad wig.

 

[Shaanyboi]

My brother told me in the 90s Mexicans were mad when Jennifer Lopez was cast as Selena.

People were also angry when Zhang Ziyi was cast as the lead in Memoirs of a Geisha.

Difference is, these are based on real-world periods or even people, and not solely fantastical amalgamations of recognizable cultural cliches.

 

[lightskintwin]

My brother told me in the 90s Mexicans were mad when Jennifer Lopez was cast as Selena.

There was a backlash, but it's not like how it is today with social media. I'm certain the outrage would've been much bigger today. LOL

To her and the film's credit, I thought Jennifer Lopez did a great job.

Obviously I can't speak for Mexicans or Mexican Americans, but I think the majority didn't have an issue after watching the film.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

Get the hot guy who used to be on Degrassi and then was on the first season of Orphan Black for like a quick second to play Aladdin, I'm pretty sure he also can sing?

 

[Turin]

I think Riz Ahmed would have this role if he was in his 20's.

 

[shintoki]

Hot take incoming: I can't help but feel a wave of unease when they talk about arabs and Indians like they are interchangeable. It's not enough to just be 'brown enough'. It's like trying to pass off Korean as Japanese. Just because most of western audiences can't tell the difference doesn't make it right.

You mean Banderas as an Arabian in The 13th Warrior.

Being fair, I don't think this is much different than casting a German to play an American. Where no one really cares if Elba is English and playing a guy from Baltimore or Fassbender is German and playing an American from Cali.

 

[MartyStu]

No, but if you have a Brown actor who looks Arab and has the look they want, and can act, sing, dance, and fluently speak English the way they want. Then he shouldn't be overlooked because he's not technically Arab.

In Hollywood, ethnicity is ignored when casting White and Black actors.

Very good point. No one is really losing sleep over the fact that most of the Black Panther cast is African American.

 

[Valkerionseven]

I mean part of me is happy they are trying to get cast members appropriate for the location, fictional or not. Not to mention wanting acting AND singing chops. But like others said, when the diversity pool of talent has been kept so small all these years, this is the result when you want and need a certain cast type.

Have a feeling it will be the same for Mulan, though probably will be easier since China itself is grooming actors and actresses for international consumption. Will not be surprised if we see some roles go to South Korean actors as well out of pure popularity.

 

[Kinyou]

Funnily enough there are Korean movies that do this anyway

Is there even a big difference between Koreans and Japanese? I figured that was like someone from the UK playing a Russian.

 

[MartyStu]

I mean part of me is happy they are trying to get cast members appropriate for the location, fictional or not. Not to mention wanting acting AND singing chops. But like others said, when the diversity pool of talent has been kept so small all these years, this is the result when you want and need a certain cast type.

Have a feeling it will be the same for Mulan, though probably will be easier since China itself is grooming actors and actresses for international consumption. Will not be surprised if we see some roles go to South Korean actors as well out of pure popularity.

Mulan is the one only one the REALLY need to get right.

I will fucking RIOT if they ruin that movie.

 

[Poor GRIMES]

in all seriousness, Riz could be pretty great tbh