Disney Has Trouble Casting ‘Aladdin,’ So People On Twitter Are Doing It Instead

• By Aneeb
• July 13, 2017
• 3 minutes read

Twitter really is a helping hand.

The studio had started casting in March but since then, they have rejected over 2,000 actors from across the globe.

People on Twitter are mad about the casting.

Here’s a preview of what the reactions of Twitters users are when they got to know that the casting staff could not find characters for Alladin even in the Asian lands.

Are they really out here claiming it’s hard to find an actor of Middle Eastern/South Asian descent who can act and sing to play Aladdin?!!!

— ReBecca Theodore (@FilmFatale_NYC) July 11, 2017

THERE IS LITERALLY AN ENTIRE SECOND MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD W AN INDUSTRY OF MEN WHO DANCE AND SING. #aladdin https://t.co/iu0RsdCgPs

— Jenny Yang???? (@jennyyangtv) July 11, 2017

If I was the director, I’d probably be finished by now.

Disney: Guy Ritchie is perfect to direct Aladdin.
Guy Ritchie: IDK how to find a Middle-Eastern man who can sing. https://t.co/oPagPdPO1F

— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) July 11, 2017

The list goes on and on..

List the white actors who’ve been cast in musicals despite zero dance or singing abilities. Go!

— Lexi Alexander ‎ (@Lexialex) July 11, 2017

Aladdin originally took place in Central Asia…or maybe not.

Basically, Aladdin was more commonly known as “Arabian Nights”, but Disney twisted up the story a bit and made up an imaginary “Agrabah”, which has a twist of several cultures.

Except Will Smith, the whole cast will be of “new comers”.

There are evidences that Disney was interested in casting British Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed or even Dev Patel, another British with an Indian accent but no one knows the end of these stories.

For Twitter, there would be problems if either one did not get it.

In all seriousness. This is what it’s come to. They’re having trouble filling the role of ALADDIN if Dev Patel or Riz Ahmed don’t take it. https://t.co/GsfBfIB801

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 11, 2017

People on Twitter had their own suggestions for the role of Aladdin, Jasmine and Jafar.

The “Big Sick” star Kumail Nanjiani had an option too.

What am I, chopped liver? https://t.co/SfhZ91y8n5

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) July 11, 2017

His fans agree too!

How about @kumailn as Aladdin? https://t.co/amqipK1BKL

— Khaver Siddiqi (@thekarachikid) July 11, 2017

However, the most popular picks were the Aladdin lookalike Avan Jogia and Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan!

I mean you could cast @AvanJogia or you could just ignore the fact that they look exactly the same… pic.twitter.com/sfzBuv4Lkn

— MEMBERS_ONLY ?? (@alissasXworld) July 11, 2017

Hrithik Roshan could be an interesting pick..

Well you can’t find better than Hrithik Roshan to do it, amazing actor and God of dance take note Disney !! pic.twitter.com/9P6X8joJUa

— ☄ (@DeeplyNourx) July 11, 2017

The University of California found out that in about 400 films and T.V series, over half did not feature Asian speaking characters.

USC’s Annenberg School found out that over 75 percent of the cast is white while only 5 percent are Asian characters.

The casting is not finished on Twitter yet.

Twitter users also suggested more actors for Aladdin. Someone suggester Oded Fehr to play Jafar. Fehr has already played Jafar on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” and has experiences in “The Mummy” and “Covert Affairs”.

This is inch-perfect.

@odedfehr is the perfect Jafar pic.twitter.com/4in6U5LtDq

— Selene (@ThisSelene) July 11, 2017

Make her in charge of casting!

There are plenty of amazing MENA & South Asian actors. I have a list. Give me a call Guy https://t.co/yDx07ONuNJ

— Lexi Alexander ‎ (@Lexialex) July 11, 2017

Let’s all just hope that Disney takes suggestions from Twitter to cast Aladdin. Half of the work for Disney is already completed by Twitter. Fill the other half, Disney!