Remember when Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin was an internet meme, with Will Smith’s CGI Blue Genie at the center? It’s come a long way since then. Audiences have loved it, sending it to over $1 billion worldwide in box office earnings. Now, Aladdin might get a sequel from Disney. Wait... does this mean the studio is looking to the 1994 and 1996 direct-to-video releases: The Return of Jafar and The King of Thieves?
When Comicbook.com spoke to Aladdin producer Dan Lin about the potential of a second Aladdin movie, he not only confirmed that there have been talks of one, but also shared this:
If I told you the fans would go crazy. It's just too early for me to reveal. But just know that we're looking at a lot of different source material and it's not going to be based on one singular source, but we're going to take the best of everything that's been done before and create something fresh and new.
As Dan Lin explains: if Disney moves forward with an Aladdin 2, they’ll be looking to multiple source material for inspiration. Between the two sequels, the ‘90s Disney Channel television series and the ancient folk tales of the Arabian Nights where the character first found it’s debut, there are tons of possibilities for the story to move forward. Lin also assured fans that nothing they’re going to do is going to be a “shot-for-shot anything”.
Aladdin would follow in the footsteps 2016’s Alice Through the Looking Glass which came six years after Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and 2014’s Maleficent, receiving a sequel this October titled Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. There have also previously been talks of Jon Favreau’s first photo-realistic endeavor continuing with Jungle Book 2 as well.
Aladdin not only retold the beloved story Disney fans knew and love, but in a way that allowed the live-action version to stand on its own. Will Smith was able to bring something new to the Genie after Robin Williams iconic performance, and the newcomers Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott showed off impressive performances, with Princess Jasmine finding an exciting update for the princess.
The movie also exceeded box office expectations starting with opening weekend where the musical made $91 million, after projections had it at $75 million. Aladdin became Disney’s third 2019 film to pass the $1 billion mark a few weeks ago, following Marvel’s Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.
A second Aladdin movie isn’t yet officially in development over at Disney, but it looks like some serious discussions are in play and it could happen! Until we learn more, watch out for the home release coming on a magic carpet on Digital August 27 and Blu-ray September 10.
What would you like to see from an Aladdin sequel? Sing your song in the comments below!
