Theater News

Aladdin Live-Action Remake May Have Found Director

Disney puts another animated favorite in line for a reboot.

New York City
Courtney Reed and Adam Jacobs as Jasmine and Aladdin in the original Broadway cast of Aladdin.
Courtney Reed and Adam Jacobs as Jasmine and Aladdin in the original Broadway cast of Aladdin.
(© Deen van Meer)

According to reports by Deadline, the 1992 animated feature Aladdin joins Disney's lineup of live action film reboots.

The project is in the good company of Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book, the upcoming Beauty and the Beast (to be released in March 2017), and the recently announced Mulan and The Lion King. Guy Ritchie, director of the first two Sherlock Holmes films with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, is in talks to helm the film.

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 lending 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.