The wait is over! We now know what Will Smith's Aladdin Genie will look like and... let's say it's interesting, because we're setting a goal of staying positive for 2019!
Some first-look shots of Guy Ritchie's long-awaited remake of the classic Disney film recently appeared in Entertainment Weekly, and they created quite the stir on Twitter!
We can show you the world... of Disney’s live-action #Aladdin! Get a shining, shimmering, splendid first look at th… https://t.co/WaiH660bxM— Entertainment Weekly (@Entertainment Weekly)1545223363.0
The Disney classic is known best for its outsized genie played by Robin Williams, in a delightfully manic performance that became instantly quote-worthy--big shoes for a new start to fill! As director Guy Ritchie told EW:
"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."
And when it comes to big personalities in Hollywood, it's hard to argue against Will Smith as a perfect choice. Ritchie, on the other hand, was an unconventional choice to direct the film, known best for high-energy, ultra-violent heists and smash-em-ups like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.
But as a father of five, Ritchie felt he could combine his family-man status with his previous skills to create something unique and family-friendly:
"My skills and experience could add enough to make it feel fresh and worth it, but not so much so that it would wash away nostalgia."
But it seems that when it comes to that last part--nostalgia--movie fans might need a bit more convincing! As soon as the new photos dropped, Twitter had a lot to say--specifically about the fact that Smith isn't blue:
We asked for one thing... A Smurf Smith. 😑 #Aladdin https://t.co/3WMq2lgzS4— Filipe Torres (@Filipe Torres)1545227315.0
Genie ain't blue :'( #Aladdin https://t.co/Ia9taqV1nj— BossLogic (@BossLogic)1545224255.0
@EW @disneyaladdin @MenaMassoud @NaomiScott https://t.co/IBd7jXpQgP— Amit Gawas 👍 (@Amit Gawas 👍)1545224738.0
@EW @disneyaladdin @MenaMassoud @NaomiScott That isn't what I was expecting https://t.co/UJnd5Pl0I5— watch #aquaman (@watch #aquaman)1545223574.0
genie! my first wish. i wish that i'd never seen this. https://t.co/R8JSMG52C4— jessica (@jessica)1545227695.0
@Bosslogic Will should have just blue himself? https://t.co/vnIbKpal7Z— James Buttress (@James Buttress)1545225498.0
@Bosslogic Fixed it real quick. #Aladdin https://t.co/FFs5oPLUUn— Kevin Sparrow (@Kevin Sparrow)1545226296.0
But it wasn't just the lack of blueness that was vexing people:
Looks like the Sinbad genie from the Shazam movie that existed but never really existed. https://t.co/tAhO22frkb— King Kortney, PhD ✊🏿 (@King Kortney, PhD ✊🏿)1545227147.0
I have ... Questions Like why does Will Smith look like Sinbad? https://t.co/lITuMfj7L7— Krishan A Smith (@Krishan A Smith)1545227343.0
Haters gonna say this isn’t Sinbad. https://t.co/uAFehchykT— Melanie Dione (@Melanie Dione)1545227539.0
So he's a diet Sinbad? https://t.co/DJWJQwCed4— Sofa Glow'd (@Sofa Glow'd)1545228416.0
And his hair wasn't popular either...
Will Smith’s genie hair in the live-action #Aladdin is going to be a major source of anxiety for me in 2019. https://t.co/FwG44LHiUj— Jason Carlos (@Jason Carlos)1545223805.0
Which, fair enough. But while there's likely not much to be done about the hair, the blue skin problem will be taken care of by the time of the film's 2019 release.
The final version of Will Smith’s Genie in his blue floating lamp form isn’t quite finished, but director Guy Ritch… https://t.co/WP9hFCInNk— Entertainment Weekly (@Entertainment Weekly)1545233280.0
Rest assured, #Aladdin fans: Will Smith's genie will be blue in the live-action film. Director Guy Ritchie gives us… https://t.co/XMO5gyLDWB— Entertainment Weekly (@Entertainment Weekly)1545235136.0
Phew, thank God for that! Let this be a lesson for all future remakes: don't change the original too much, or purists will argue with you till they're blue in the face! (I'm sorry.) Purchase the original Aladdin on DVD or Blu-ray here. on DVD or Blu-ray here.