Disney's live-action adaptation of 'Aladdin' premieres Friday: What you should know
Disney's live-action adaptation of the animated classic "Aladdin" hits theaters on Friday.
The trailer for the Guy Ritchie-directed film, which has already garnered more than 31 million views, features an all-star cast and gives viewers a sneak peek of what's sure to be a magical journey and love story.
Here's what you need to know ahead of the highly anticipated premiere:
Will Smith will play the Genie
Smith will take on the famous Genie role in the upcoming live-action adaptation of "Aladdin." Robin Williams, who died in August 2014, played the famous character in the original 1992 animated classic.
During an appearance on "Good Morning America" in May 2019, Smith spoke about Williams' contributions and the pressure attached to playing such an iconic role.
"I watched the original and, Robin, he just destroyed that thing," he said. "It was so intimidating."
"The one thing that I latched onto was the idea that it was going to be live action. ... I knew that left a little bit of room. He revolutionized what you could do in these types of films. He really changed using modern references and things like that," Smith continued.
The actor also paid tribute to Williams in a recent Instagram post. "I know Genies don't have Feet... But you left some Big Shoes to fill," Smith captioned his post. "R.I.P., Robin!"
The trailer promises a journey to remember
If you haven't seen the trailer yet, you need to. From magic carpet rides to Aladdin's introduction to the Genie, it's clear that the plot will stick to the storyline of the 1992 classic.
Ritchie explained his creative process when directing the film to io9.
"As [we] approached certain components in the original, [we] thought, 'Could we trump this in any particular way?'" he said. "And sometimes you could and sometimes you couldn't. But everything was up for 'if it can be improved, let's try to improve it.'"
"There's a sweet spot there, I think," he continued. "That sweet spot is you want your nostalgia to be stroked [and], simultaneously, there needs to be embellishments and additions, but they need to feel fresh and worth it. Otherwise, that familiar experience can taste rather bitter."
Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott realized the significance of their roles
Scott, who plays Princess Jasmine in the upcoming flick, said on "GMA" that that the cast adores the film, which she hopes shines through on the screen. "We adore this movie ... it's so much fun," she said.
The actress also said that it was a constant dance party on set.
She also discussed her breakout role as Princess Jasmine and what she loved about her character with The Independent.
"She's so many different things at so many different points. What I love is that you can be strong and you can cry. You can be strong and feel weak," she said. "She's sassy, but what's more important is that she's actually fighting for the freedom of choice for her people. That's feminism, it's not just a witty comment."
Massoud, who plays Aladdin in the film, said, "We definitely all felt the responsibility to do it justice," while appearing on "GMA."
He also said that one aspect he loves about the film is that "it's a fairytale story in another part of the world."
Disney's live-action adaption of "Aladdin" opens in U.S. theaters nationwide on May 24.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News, which produces "Good Morning America."
