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Will Smith Circling Genie Role in Live-Action ‘Aladdin’

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Wenn

Will Smith is considering a magical new role as Genie in Guy Ritchie’s live-action remake of Aladdin.

The actor is reportedly in talks to portray the beloved character, voiced by the late Robin Williams in the 1992 animated Disney film.

Aladdin, Robin Williams, Walt Disney Animation
Walt Disney Animation

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the musical production is slated to begin in the U.K. this summer (Jul17), and Smith can now take on the role thanks to the fact his schedule has started to free up.

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The 48-year-old was recently in negotiations to appear in Tim Burton’s live-action Dumbo adaptation but scheduling conflicts prevented him from signing on to the project. Smith has also temporarily stepped away from Bad Boys 3, following director Joe Carnahan’s exit from the action comedy last month (Mar17).

If cast in Aladdin, Smith would be the first major star to join the project. It would also mark his first animated role since the 2004 DreamWorks hit Shark Tale.

Last month (Mar17), Disney held a casting call welcoming unknown talent to audition for the roles of Aladdin and Jasmine in the film.

The classic tale follows a boy who is granted three wishes by a Genie living in a lamp. The reboot will be written by John August and produced by Dan Lin, who previously collaborated with Ritchie for the Sherlock Holmes films.

Aladdin’s development comes following the release of Disney’s live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. The acclaimed film has already taken in $1 billion at the global box office since its release last month (Mar17).

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