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Mummy Actor May Play Jafar in Disney's Live-Action Aladdin

The film is also set to star Will Smith as the Genie.

Marwan Kenzari is in talks to play Jafar in Disney's new live-action Aladdin.
Marwan Kenzari is in talks to play Jafar in Disney's new live-action Aladdin.

(© Janey van Ierland)

The upcoming Disney live-action film reboot of the 1992 animated feature Aladdin may have found its Jafar in The Mummy actor Marwan Kenzari, according to Variety.

Kenzari would join previously announced cast members Will Smith as the Genie (originally voiced by Robin Williams), Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, and Mena Massoud as Aladdin. Guy Ritchie will direct the film, with a screenplay by John August.

Aladdin was originally released in 1992, featuring music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. The cast of voices included Scott Weinger (Aladdin), Robin Williams (Genie), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), and Linda Larkin (Jasmine), with Tony winner Lea Salonga supplying the singing voice of Jasmine.

The stage musical Aladdin opened at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, with Jonathan Freeman reprising his original performance as Jafar. The production earned five Tony nominations, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.