“Will Smith is in talks to play the Genie in a new version of ‘Aladdin'” links

Collateral Beauty European Premiere

Will Smith is your new genie in the new Aladdin movie. [Dlisted]
Jennifer Lopez & Alex Rodriguez are “more serious” than people think. [LaineyGossip]
Hilary Duff posts Instagram of herself reading a book. [Popoholic]
The Kardashians are so mad at Caitlyn Jenner right now. [Wonderwall]
Eden Sassoon & Kyle Richards are still beefing. [Reality Tea]
UC Berkeley canceled Ann Coulter’s appearance. [Jezebel]
Rose Byrne told Oprah Winfrey to STFU. [JustJared]
Kate Upton did the Lip Sync Battle as Britney Spears. [IDLY]
Maury Povich hates David Letterman, apparently. [Seriously OMG WTF]
Ricky Martin did the Lip Sync Battle too. [Socialite Life]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry officially open The Global Academy in support of Heads Together

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21 Responses to ““Will Smith is in talks to play the Genie in a new version of ‘Aladdin'” links”

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  1. swak says:

    Not sure I would see a live version of Aladdin without Robin Williams as the genie – no matter who it was. It would be hard to follow Robin as they gave him all kinds of leeway when it came to his lines (many were ad libbed by him).

  2. Katydid04 says:

    IMO Aladdin just can’t be remade without Robin Williams. That is one that Disney should just stay away from.

  3. Mia4s says:

    Sigh. Fine. OK. I actually didn’t mind that Beauty and the Beast movie but I hate that it was a big success. Now they’re going to do all their animated movies as live action instead of creating new classics.

    Sometimes it will be fine I guess, (the Jungle Book was horribly dated and ripe for remake. Fine.) but Robin Williams’s performance was transcendent and legendary. This is guaranteed to be inferior.

  4. Rhiley says:

    I saw it on Broadway and I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did. James Monroe Iglehart who plays the Genie is fantastic, and it is such a great, fun show. I took my nephew and he loved it too.

  5. Originaltessa says:

    This works for me. My favorite Will Smith is funny Will Smith.

    • derpshooter says:

      Me too. I can see him being funny and different enough that the two performances can stand next to one another. my only concern is that Aladdin doesn’t get cast as a white guy. The magical negro trope couldn’t get any more on the nose and would just ruin it.

      • WhichWitch says:

        I don’t think they’ll cast a white guy, considering all the whitewashing backlash. I just hope they don’t cast Dev Patel as Aladdin.

  6. Fran says:

    So people I’m taking early guesses – to what extent is this movie going to be a total whitewash (1 being racial and cultural sensitivity and 10 being Antony Hopkins as Othello)?

  7. Alyce says:

    I am happy with Will Smith a genie. No one is ever going to beat Robin Williams, but Will has enough charm to do justice to the character, I think.

  8. Veronica says:

    I think he could do well in the role. Smith has the charisma for Genie, even though he’s going up against an impossible performance to top. I’m more concerned about the casting and SFX on that one – I wasn’t too impressed with the overall “look” of B&B (did it look kind of chintzy to anyone else?), and Aladdin is something of a feast for the eyes animation-wise because it’s so colorful and dramatic that it would be a shame to see it suffer the same fate.

  9. Kata says:

    But why not go with a Middle Eastern actor?

  10. Happy21 says:

    I don’t know what I think.
    Will Smith looking all buff and muscled as a genie? It doesn’t seem like a genie should have a decent bod. LOL! I’m so weird because I think that but that’s what comes to me. Like Will Smith will pop out of a lamp and be like all six packs and biceps, that’s just weird to me.
    I think I’d like a jolly genie better.
    But Will does have the charisma to pull it off.

  11. Chigirlie says:

    Rami malik would be a good choice for Aladdin in my opinion.

  12. Ariana says:

    I always throw up into my mouth a little when I read popoholic. That site is disgusting