Make way for the Genies!
The 1992 animated classic, Aladdin is getting Disney’s live-action treatment in a prequel film called Genies. The blue-skinned Genie (who was memorably voiced by the late Robin Williams) will be the main character of Genies, as the film explores his backstory and reveals how he was trapped in the lamp.
Aladdin and Genies are based on a famous Middle Eastern folk tale about an impoverished young man who comes into possession of a magic lamp and the powerful genie that resides within it. Disney’s Aladdin spawned two direct-to-video animated sequels and an animated TV series.
Genies is being written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, the screenwriting duo behind Freddy vs. Jason and the Friday the 13th remake, as well as the Baywatch movie and O’Lucky Day, both of which are currently in development at Paramount.
Currently, the plan is for Genies to lead into a live-action remake of Aladdin itself. And not to brag, but we totally called a live-action Aladdin back in March as part of our 5 Live-Action Remakes of Animated Classics Disney Should Consider After Cinderella.
Beauty and the Beast is next in line for a Disney live-action remake, with Dan Stevens as the Beast, Emma Watson as Belle, Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as LeFou, Sir Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, and Audra McDonald as Garderobe. Beauty and the Beast will be released in March 2017, with Genies presumably to follow at a later date.
Which actor could possibly dare to compete with the memory of Robin Williams’ Genie? Make a wish and share your picks in the comment section below!
