Will Smith in Talks to Play Genie in Live-Action 'Aladdin'
Your wish may soon be granted, courtesy of Will Smith.
Deadline reports the actor is in talks to play the Genie in the live-action version of "Aladdin," which is set to be directed by Guy Ritchie. The Genie was famously voiced by Robin Williams in the 1992 original.
"Aladdin" is yet another Disney animated property in line to get a live-action update after "Alice in Wonderland," "Cinderella," and most recently, "Beauty and the Beast," which was a behemoth of a blockbuster.
Like the latter movie, the live-action "Aladdin" will be a musical. Smith, of course, was a successful rapper and musician before his days as the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." He had previously been in talks to star in Tim Burton's "Dumbo," but that deal apparently fell apart.
Smith will have big shoes to fill, as Williams stole scene after scene as the Genie. The movie follows the story of a street urchin named Aladdin who falls in love with Princess Jasmine and finds a magical lamp containing the Genie, who grants him three wishes.
The live-action "Aladdin" will likely begin production this summer but has no release date scheduled yet.