Marwan Kenzari, who played an exciting role in “The Mummy,” is in talks to play Jafar in Disney’s live-action “Aladdin” reboot, The Sun Daily reports. John August, whose credits include “Big Fish,” has written the script and dialogues of Disney’s new film. Guy Ritchie, on the other hand, has been hired as director and co-producer. Marwan Kenzari may join Naomi Scott, Will Smith, and Mena Massoud once he finalizes his deal with Disney Studios. Nasim Pedrad is also cast as a handmaid and friend to Jasmine. Dan Lin, who produced Guy’s two “Sherlock Holmes” film, is co-financing “Aladdin” through his Lin Pictures company.
Jonathan Eirich is reportedly serving as executive producer.
Who is Jafar in the film?
Jonathan Freeman portrayed Jafar in the 1992 film. Jafar was first envisioned as an irritable character, but the filmmaker felt that a calm villain would be scarier. Jonathan was the first actor cast and spent months recording his dialogues. He later readjusted his voice after Larkin and Weinger were cast as he felt Jafar had to be seen as a real threat to Jasmine and Aladdin. Marwan Kenzari will take the story forward by giving tough competition to the leading characters of “Aladdin.” Kathy Zielinski will animate Jafar's snake forms and the beggar. The original film was a comic take on the Arabic folk tale about a boy granted three wishes by a genie trapped in a lamp.
Disney struggled to find the actors
Disney had a hard time casting the leads in the new film. Guy Ritchie auditioned many Arabian, Indian, Brazilian, and European actors and actresses before finalizing Naomi Scott, Will Smith, and Mena Massoud for the leads. It was later reported that Disney needed an actor who could play Jafar.
The studio is in talks with some action heroes, including Marwan Kenzari. On the bright side, Disney wants to avoid accusations of whitewashing that plagued properties like “Iron Fist” and “Ghost in the Shell” by staying true to the Middle Eastern source materials. There is no official word whether Marwan Kenzari will play Jafar in the new film or not.
During the bi-annual D23 Expo the previous month, Disney announced the actors who’ve been cast in the leads for its forthcoming film. At that time, Guy Ritchie was auditioning some stars for the character of Jafar. According to Variety, Ritchie and Will Smith are highly recommending Marwan Kenzari for this role, but Disney has yet to make the final decision. The last time Will Smith was starred in a children’s movie was 2004’s “Shark Tale,” so it’ll be a sight to see him in the remake of 1992’s “Aladdin.”
