Real Talk with the Aladdin Cast

Real Talk with the Aladdin Cast: what they shared about diversity at the Aladdin Press Junket…….

The animated version of Aladdin is a favorite in our household…..from Alan Menken’s amazing music to Robin Williams’ magical performance as the genie……it’s a masterpiece. So I’m not going to lie, when the new broke that a LIVE ACTION Aladdin would be released, I was concerned. Would the Live Action Aladdin cast do the film justice?

This weekend, I dusted off my Aladdin jacket, drove into Beverly Hills and immersed myself in all things Aladdin. The Live Action version of Aladdin is releasing later this week, and I got a chance to sit down with the Aladdin Cast at their press junket. Their real talk about diversity in casting and the magic of Disney was inspiring. And having seen the film (stay tuned for my live action Aladdin review)…..I can tell you that their enthusiasm? Is totally warranted. The Aladdin cast did a fabulous job, and their pride in their work was apparent with every question and answer!

Real Talk with the Aladdin Cast

One of the hot topics at the Aladdin press junket? The amazing job that the Disney team did casting this film. I loved hearing the Aladdin Cast’s thoughts on the characters, the importance of representation in media, and what the original film meant to THEM.

“You know, I’m especially proud of the representation and the ethnically diverse casting that was put together for this. It’s not often you can go to a movie theater and see all people of color represented like this. It’s certainly something that I was missing in my childhood. So I’m proud of the cast and the casting that Guy and Disney put together. So I’m excited for little boys and girls to go see people that look like them on screen, man. That’s what I’m proud of.”-Mena Massoud (Aladdin)

I’m so proud to be part of the most diversely cast Disney movie of all time I think. And it really, that film resonated with me as a child because it was the first time I saw a Middle Eastern protagonist in a major motion picture. -Nasim Pedrad (Dalia)

“I was saying Disney Magic is real. This is my first Disney movie. And there’s something that Walt Disney did in the design of these stories that at the core of these stories is something that shocks the inner child within you and forces it to come alive and smile and appreciate the moment.” -Will Smith (Genie)