(Picture: Entertainment Weekly)

For our first wish, Disney have given us the first look at Will Smith as Genie from the upcoming live adaptation of Aladdin.

And we have to say, he’s looking a little less blue than the genie we’re used to.

With a bald head and a top knot, Will Smith’s Genie is dressed in the trademark bejeweled outfit and has been pictured alongside Jack Ryan star Mena Massoud as the tutular street urchin turned prince, and British actress Naomi Scott.


‘Whenever you’re doing things that are iconic, it’s always terrifying,’ Smith told Entertainment Weekly.

Robin Williams famously voiced Genie in the 1992 animation, one of the most beloved films by the House of Mouse.



‘The question is always: Where was there meat left on the bone? Robin didn’t leave a lot of meat on the bone with the character,’ added Smith.

‘The great thing about the role of the Genie is that it’s essentially a hyperbole for who that individual actor is, so it’s a wonderful platform and tapestry for an actor to fill his boots on,’ said director Guy Ritchie.

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Lewis actress Naomi added that she was keen to put her own spin on Jasmine: ‘Jasmine’s main objective at the beginning is to really protect her people and to do right by them.

‘She definitely isn’t a finished article at the beginning of the movie, but she has this beautiful arc and progression, and she goes from asking for what she wants to just taking it, and displaying that she is a leader.’

The original film was released in 1992 (Picture: Disney)

Navid Negahban previously offered some details on remake of Aladdin to Metro.co.uk, teasing how it’ll have the director’s ‘signature’ style.

The 53-year-old actor is set to play The Sultan in the Disney remake, which represents a significant departure fo Ritchie, being known for helming stylish action in Sherlock Holmes and gangster flicks Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

‘Guy is very sensitive,’ Negahban said.

‘He was trying very hard to stay truthful and respectful to the culture and figuring out the best way to present the character and all the monsters. It’s going to be a fun movie.

‘I think it stays truthful to the storyline, but at the same time, you will see nuances of the characters that wasn’t captured in the animation film. You will see depth in the characters instead of just being entertained by the story.’

Aladdin is due for release on 24 May 2019 in the UK.

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