The live-action Disney film “Aladdin” cast is finally complete.
Disney announced that the Sultan will be portrayed by “Homeland” actor Navid Negahban.
Image: Facebook/Navid Negahban
New characters include Dalia, handmaiden and BFF to Princess Jasmine; Prince Anders, a suitor from Skanland who seeks to marry the princess; and Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man, possibly a replacement for the chatty parrot Iago.
“Saturday Night Live” alum Nasim Pedrad, who is Iranian-American, has been cast as Dalia:
Image: Instagram/@nasimpedrad
American actor Billy Magnussen, who has starred in “American Crime Story” and “Into the Woods,” will play the new prince:
Image: Instagram/@BillyMangussen
Here’s a visual of what he would look like on horseback, like a true Disney prince:
Numan Acar, born in Turkey and raised in Germany, is Hakim. His works include TV show “Prison Break” and is also in “Homeland” with Negahban:
A post shared by Numan Acar official side (@numanoffice) on
They join cast members Will Smith as the Genie, Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud as Aladdin, “Power Rangers” actress Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine and “The Mummy” actor and Dutchman Marwan Kenzari as Jafar.
Smith marked the first day of shooting with a cast photo:
L-R: Smith, Scott, Kenzari and Massoud. Image: Facebook/Will Smith
Guy Ritchie directs, while composer Alan Menken, who scored the original animated film, will write two new songs along with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Tony Award-winning talent behind musicals “La La Land” and “Dear Evan Hansen.”
According to Disney, production has begun in London. /ra
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