Yeah... this was NOT easy.
"Who do you cast as Genie?!" This was, without a doubt, the hardest casting decision that I have had to make for the Remake Column. However, we will get to that in a wee bit. First, let's talk about Aladdin, a film that most Disney fans hold in their personal "top 5".
Aladdin, released in 1992, was Disney's new film in a new string of classic animated musicals, following both The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Loosely based off of the book Arabian Nights, Aladdin tells the story of a boy, his monkey, and his dream of being more in life then a mere "street rat". His quest to not only fulfill this dream, while also impressing the beautiful princess Jasmine, leads him to a magical lamp, holding a powerful (and ridiculously awesome) Genie, who has the power to grant Aladdin three wishes.
This film has spawned a Broadway play, a soundtrack that has provided some of the most annoying karaoke performances in this century, as well as an upcoming live-action adaption currently in the works, as Disney plans to continue their momentum of remaking classic animated films into live-action adaptions.
So, with this is mind, some questions need to be asked: Who plays Aladdin? Jasmine? Jafar? OMG! Who does the voice of Iago?! And so help us God! Who in the HELL replaces Robin Williams as the Genie?!
Note: Before I give you my list, I ask that you remove the panic button from your immediate sight, and give these choices a chance. I spent many, many minutes thinking about this, and I wouldn't have deemed these picks "worthy" if I didn't think they could deliver. However, if you DO disagree, let me know who you would want to see cast! I am sure there are plenty of options that I haven't explored yet!
OK! With all of that being said, here is my live-action cast for the remake of the Disney animated classic, Aladdin!
Aladdin- Avan Jogia
Not that I have read any other casting ideas for this project; however, I am sure that Avan's name has come up a time or two for the title character Aladdin. Known for his characters in Nickelodeon's Victorious, and perhaps more recently in the mini-series Tut, Jogia's displays all the talents one would need to properly play Aladdin. The guy can act, sing, and looks beautiful (this required much research haha), not to mention he could finally leave that bitch Jade for a real Princess! He proved in Tut that he can carry a project; and the way he plays the "calm and cool" vibe is a perfect mesh/counter for what would be his main co-star, Genie!
Considered- Lin-Manuel Miranda
Why not? Age
Jafar- Remi Malek
Really, dude? Mr. Robot?
Hear me out, here!
Deep voice, menacing, and a face so creepy you would surely pull out your attack whistle, I think this dude has the talent to do this famous Disney villain justice! A bit young for the Jafar we all know, I feel like this is a great way change up some of the dynamics from the original classic, perhaps making him an age similar to Aladdin. And hey! Special effects can make him taller... so if THAT'S your only issue, then I would suggest you take up a different one.
Considered- Sasha Baron Cohen
Why not? I preferred Mr. Robot
Princess Jasmine- Freida Pinto
OK, now THIS is perhaps TOO obvious! I'm sorry... I just don't want to be accused of white washing!
Besides all of that, Pinto literally looks like a princess! I think any man would feel extremely lucky to be her Aladdin... or her magic carpet for that matter (wink wink and point!)
Oh, yeah! Speaking of the magic carpet!
Considered- Vanessa Hudgens
Why not? ehh...
Magic Carpet/Abu- Andy Serkis
Listen, I am all about consistency here. Who am I to take away Serkis' opportunity of getting the turkey!? As in playing a monkey for the third time, like he did in Peter Jackson King Kong, as well as in this current Planet of the Apes trilogy.
Also, there really is nobody better (at least that we know of) who does motion capture work better than Serkis. So, in that regard, why fix what isn't broke?
Iago- Gilbert Gotfired
Look, I tried! I really did! I went through the IMBD database of actors/actresses currently working today who had a equal voice of both obscurity and peak annoyance. This was my mission... and my mission I have failed.
Hear me out, if the upcoming live-action adaption of The Lion King can recast James Earl Jones as Mufasa, then I deserve this mulligan as well. Also, I think that fans would appreciate this callback to the original, as it creates a link between the original and remake.
Considered- Kevin Hart
Why not? I'd rather see him as Timon...
I'm going to blow through these next to FAST! That way we can get to Genie...
Sultan- Jim Broadbant
So... about that whole "white wash" thing...
The guy plays the confused yet jolly old man character well. What can I say? He's like a cute old man, and that innocence would translate well.
The Peddler/Narrator- John Leguizamo
My decision behind this was simple: While it has been officially debunked that the original peddler was in fact the Genie (both voiced by the late Robin Williams), I want the films narrator to be it's own entity. Leguizamo is quick, funny, and mysterious. He is an awesome character actor, who would kick this movie off in the right direction.
Ok (gulp), here he is...
Genie- John C. Reilly
(Judgement free zone here, right?)
I spent more time on this choice than ANY of the other characters COMBINED! Does that rationalize my choice? No! However, this does...
NOBODY can replace/recapture what Robin Williams did in the original! It would be a tragedy to even attempt to replicate it. Names like Bill Hader, Kevin Hart, and many others have been thrown out there, ALL in which are clearly pitched with the mindset of redoing EXACTLY what Robin Williams did. Bottom line is this: If you try to make a Robin Williams Genie WITHOUT Robin Williams, then this whole project would crumble faster then team Global Gym in the Vegas Dodgeball tournament.
So, how do we avoid this? We recreate what the Genie is!
Let me put it to you this way; Did anybody get the chance to see Reilly's work in Wreck-it Ralph? what about Chicago? or Carnage? Step Brothers? I could go down the entire database of John C. Reilly, but I think you are smart enough to get the picture. The man, simply, is both one of the best AND underrated actors working today! I might also add "unappreciated" too. He can literally do it all! Genie doesn't have to be "fast" to help the audience understand his vast personalities; rather, I believe that you just simply need an actor who can convey those emotions, but perhaps in a different way.
Reilly's personality carries a complete innocence to him, which I think is extremely important for the character of Genie. As well, Reilly can sing, deliver heartbreaking dialogue, and can make you laugh harder than an episode of Eric Andre.
Literally, picture his voice for a second in Genie talk: It's fun, it's funny, it wants to be your friend (and a good one at that), and most important, it doesn't want to let you down. However, what sells me on this more then anything else the "freedom" scene at the end of the film. I think about his character Ralph in Wreck-it Ralph, and how grateful, truly, Reilly can convey this. The man has a likability about him that is rare. I believe that this new incarnation of Genie would be welcomed by all who gave it a chance.
This is a pick that I am extremely proud of.
