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[lightskintwin]

Marwan Kenzari, the actor who is poised to break through as part of the all-star cast of the upcoming Murder on the Orient Express, is in negotiations to star as the villain in Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin.

At the same time, former Saturday Night Live comedienne Nasim Pedrad has landed a role created specifically for the new movie.

Will Smith is toplining as the wish-granting genie while Mena Massoud will play the title character, a street rat who ends up over his head when he pretends to be a prince in order to win the hand of Princess Jasmine, played by Naomi Scott.

The story, which aims to follow that of Disney’s 1992 animated classic while also taking cues from the folktales in One Thousand and One Nights, is set in Agrabah, a fictional cosmopolitan city inspired by locations and cultures from the Middle East to India and China.

If a deal makes, Kenzari will play Jafar, the grand vizier to the sultan of the Agrabah who wants to use the genie for his own nefarious plans. The character is in the pantheon of the most recognizable Disney villains and was voiced by Jonathan Freeman in the animated movie.

Pedrad will play Mara, the handmaiden and friend to Jasmine. The part is described as a comedic supporting role.

Guy Ritchie is directing the project from a script by John August (Big Fish, Corpse Bride). Dan Lin, who worked with Ritchie on Sherlock Holmes, is producing.

Kenzari also appeared in MGM's Ben-Hur, Universal's The Mummy, and opposite Noomi Rapace and Glenn Close in Netflix’s action thriller What Happened to Monday.

In Fox’s all-star remake of Orient Express, Kenzari portrays the conductor of a train filled with duplicitous characters played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Johnny Depp and Josh Gad, among others. He is repped by ICM Partners and Janey van Ierland at Nummer19 Films in Holland.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disneys-live-action-aladdin-finds-jafar-1026545

 

[SpaceWolf]

Looking good! Hopefully this will prove to be a tremendous opportunity for the lesser known actors who are getting cast for this project, as well as for all the other live-action adaptations Disney is cooking up.

 

[Majora]

Looks a bit young for the Jafar role, no?

 

[tearsintherain]

I hope the handmaiden isn't replacing the tiger

There have been two fantastic Jafar's on TV recently, once upon a time in wonderland had Naveen Andrews (Lost, Sense8) and Once upon a time had Oded Fehr (Mummy) play him as well.

 

[Servbot24]

Seems like he's too handsome imo, but I'm still curious to see his take on Jafar.

 

[dancingphlower]

Looking good! Hopefully this will prove to be a tremendous opportunity for the lesser known actors who are getting cast for this project, as well as for all the other live-action adaptations Disney is cooking up.

Yeah I'm pretty happy that most of the main cast consists of relative unknowns, good on Disney for taking a chance.

 

[Figboy79]

I see they're going for the fuckable Jafar. Never change, Hollywood.

In all seriousness, it seems like solid casting! I'm looking forward to this one along with The Lion King.

 

[sixteen-bit]

What has Nasim been up to since SNL? I remember she left to do her own show but I hadn't heard anything about it. Congrats on the new gig!

 

[SpaceWolf]

Looks a bit young for the Jafar role, no?

Seems like he's too handsome imo, but I'm still curious to see his take on Jafar.

God knows, if these remakes want to justify their existence creatively, they should aim for a slightly different take on the material. I'd be happy if they tried to take the character in a different direction.

 

[Ogodei]

It'll be the hardest role to get right. Jafar is the epitome of a cartoon villain (literally and in his bizarre proportions and outsize personality).

 

[Sunster]

I like attractive villains more anyway.

 

[Mass_Pincup]

So the only lead not to be Arabic or from Maghreb descents is the women?

Great Job Disney...

 

[Santiako]

Young and hot Jafar is a different take.

What has Nasim been up to since SNL? I remember she left to do her own show but I hadn't heard anything about it. Congrats on the new gig!

She was on New Girl.

 

[wandering]

Jafar in his original incarnation is pretty stereotypical so I don't mind them going with a different look.

 

[Briarios]

I still think Alexander Siddig would have been perfect, but I'm keeping an open mind.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

I hope the handmaiden isn't replacing the tiger

I'm betting that's the case. Not outright replaced, but serving the same role. So the tiger will probably be there, but not smirking to jokes or anything

 

[DemWalls]

Looks a bit young for the Jafar role, no?

This is what I was thinking as well.

I was kinda hoping for Ghassan Massoud.

 

[LycanXIII]

Looks a bit young for the Jafar role, no?

It'll look better than an old guy going for Jasmine.

 

[Nightwing123]

I'm actually really happy with this Jafar. I hated how stereotypical he looked in the animated movie.

 

[Briarios]

It'll look better than an old guy going for Jasmine.

That was the whole point of the ick factor in Aladdin ... I mean, her father flat out says it.

 

[Sunster]

It'll look better than an old guy going for Jasmine.

oh yea, I didn't even think of this. that would have made me cringe. good call, Disney.

 

[SpaceWolf]

It'll look better than an old guy going for Jasmine.

Looking forward to that Hunchback remake.

 

[Hagi]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

 

[13ruce]

Meh

 

[Briarios]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

Drake.

I mean, what not just get Gilbert Gottfried again ... It's a voice over lol they won't, but ...

 

[Geist-]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

Gilbert Gottfried should just come back. I can't imagine anyone else doing it.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

Disney now contrasts quite a bit with Disney from 7 years ago. Prince of Persia had an all white cast in spray tan apart from Ben Kingsley and this is going with (mostly) non-white actors.

 

[davepoobond]

Seems like he's too handsome imo, but I'm still curious to see his take on Jafar.

yeah, i mean, the point of Jasmine not wanting to be with Jafar was that not only was he evil he looked like an asshole.

 

[LiK]

Looks a bit young for the Jafar role, no?

Less creepy when he makes Jasmine his sex slave.

 

[jerry113]

I still think Alexander Siddig would have been perfect, but I'm keeping an open mind.

omg siddig would've been perfect

 

[wandering]

That was the whole point of the ick factor in Aladdin ... I mean, her father flat out says it.

Maybe with the whole alt-right ideology concerning Middle Easterners and Muslims they didn't want to lean into that too much

 

[SomewhatGroovy]

Maybe with the whole alt-right ideology concerning Middle Easterners and Muslims they didn't want to lean into that too much

it would perpetuate a stereotype, true, but one that still isnt far off the mark in my cullture.

 

[TalonJH]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

Honestly, I wouldn't mind Gilbert Gottfried as a sort of callback.

Drake.

I mean, what not just get Gilbert Gottfried again ... It's a voice over lol they won't, but ...

Gilbert Gottfried should just come back. I can't imagine anyone else doing it.

Yep

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

Alfonso Ribeiro

 

[lightskintwin]

wonder who they'll get to voice Iago

Denis Leary

You can't tell me he wouldn't be a perfect replacement.

 

[kirblar]

Young Jafar is a very weird choice.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

I still think Alexander Siddig would have been perfect, but I'm keeping an open mind.

omg siddig would've been perfect

Hopefully busy returning as Ra's al Ghul for Gotham Season 4.

 

[KillLaCam]

Yeah I think they should have picked someone alot older. Unless they're gonna age him up

 

[Turin]

Better picture of him.

He's 34 and has the cheekbones. it can work.

 

[neorej]

It'll look better than an old guy going for Jasmine.

Yeah, just imagine old men in power lusting for young beautiful women. Would never happen...

 

[The Hamburglar]

Head street enforcer played my statham and vinnie jones as carpet.

 

[Marmaladefire]

Casting Jafar as young and hot is a good idea for the same reason leaning that they leaned into queer baiting in Beauty and the Beast. Fangirl $$$

 

[Goodstyle]

I love Nasim Pedrad, hopefully she has a decent sized role.

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

I'm surprised Ben Kingsley isn't in this movie yet.

I guess Sultan hasn't been cast.

 

[Spiritual_Chaos]

Gilbert Gottfried should just come back. I can't imagine anyone else doing it.

Marc Maron would be a cool choice (I think).

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Gilbert Gottfried should just come back. I can't imagine anyone else doing it.

Disney might not let him come back.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Less creepy when he makes Jasmine his sex slave.

I mean, isn't he supposed to be the villain?

 

[Prince of Space]

I'm surprised Ben Kingsley isn't in this movie yet.

He'll play the dad in the live action Aladdin and the King of Thieves

 

[Nev]

Too young and too handsome. I'd be into that guy instead of the guy who is playing Aladdin if I were Jasmine. Terrible casting.

But I guess it works for tumblr fanfic trash from Loki fankids.

 

[watershed]

Guy Ritchie directing kills my excitement for this movie. His style is so predictable at this point I feel like I've already seen the movie.