The studio finally puts the rumors of a troubled casting process to rest on Saturday morning at the annual D23 Expo. Disney Pictures' Sean Bailey took the stage to announce the main cast of the much-awaited "Aladdin" live-action remake. The month's long process of assigning casting directors in multiple countries and screen testing over 2,000 actors for the lead roles finally came to an end.

Meet your Aladdin

The qualifications for this beloved and iconic character is quite specific - a male lead in his 20s who can act and sing and is of Middle-Eastern or Indian descent.

With the roster including names such as Dev Patel from "Slumdog Millionaire" and Riz Ahmed of "Rogue One," the titular role was handed to Mena Massoud.

Massoud was born in Egy , but raised in Canada. He has previously appeared in "Nikita," "Saving Hope," and the TeenNick series "Open Heart." Currently, he works alongside John Krasinski in the Amazon series "Jack Ryan." He is represented by The Characters Talent Agency and Stokes Management.

Say hello to Princess Jasmine

Wrapping up the deal for the female lead was said to be highly dependent on the search for its male counterpart. Chemistry is of utmost importance to the story and the casting process. Initial reports from sources say that studio was eyeing Bollywood star Tara Sutaria or British actress Naomi Scott, with the latter eventually bagging the role.

Scott hails from the UK, but her mother is from Northern India. She has appeared in a number of short films as well as in the movie "The 33." Recently, she played the role of Kimberly Hart or Pink Ranger in "Power Rangers." Apart from acting, Scott is also known for her singing career. She is currently under the management of WME, United Agents, and Echo Lake Entertainment.

There goes your Genie

Even at the onset, the studio has been open about wanting to cast Will Smith to play the role of Genie. The studio went into early negotiations with the Hollywood actor, which took months to settle. However, in the recent announcement, Disney confirmed that Smith will take over the role previously voiced by Robin Williams in the 1992 animated film.

The American actor, producer, rapper, and songwriter has achieved undeniable success both in the film and TV industry. He is best known for his comic and dramatic roles in which he received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Awards. In addition, he has also won four Grammy Awards. He is also a record-breaker in the domestic and international box office with his movies grossing over millions of dollars each time.

More to come from Disney

The film is yet to finish casting for the rest of the characters including the villainous Jafar, the monkey Abu, the squawking Iago, and the tiger Raja. "Aladdin" is scheduled to begin filming in London this August with Director Guy Ritchie and award-winning screenwriter John August.

Dan Lin's Lin Pictures and Jonathan Eirich are also taking part in the production.

In addition to the "Aladdin" announcement, Disney also revealed details regarding their upcoming projects such as a live-action "Dumbo" film to be directed by Tim Burton, starring Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Michael Keaton, and Danny Devito. Another live-action film for "Mulan" is also in the works as well as a movie based on "Jungle Cruise," which will star Dwayne Johnson. Fans were also given an early look at the much-talked about "Mary Poppins Returns" that will feature Emily Blunt.