I understood him, once I played with “Friend Like Me.” and Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul,” underneath “Friend Like Me.” And then, I was like, “Oh, my god, I’m home.” I started playing with the hip-hop flavor, and then the Genie was born, in my mind, from the music. I took The Honey Drippers’ “Impeach the President,” with its really classic, old school hip-hop break beat and threw that break beat under there, and I also messed with Eric B. After 30 minutes in the studio and playing with it in that 94 to 96 bpm range, even though it ultimately was a little bit faster than that, was old school hip-hop. SMITH: The song that got me over the hump of, “Yes, I can play the Genie,” was “Friend Like Me.” I went into the studio, that first day, and I really wanted to play with it, to see if I could add something to it. Was there any musical number that resonated with you the most? Will, there are so many musical numbers in this, along with the acting and the dancing.
This was the most joyful experience of my career. But then, when I got with the music, it just started waking up that fun, childlike, silly part of me. What Robin Williams did with this character, he just didn’t leave a lot of room to add to the Genie, so I started off fearful. This was 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 moments. For me, it was the most fun creative process that I’ve been through. After you’ve been doing this for 30 years, it’s easy to become jaded and cynical, but no one on the set was cynical. Everyone had a degree of improvisation, which was just natural to them. My job was really to just encourage them to be more themselves. RITCHIE: What was fun was that everyone had an incredibly positive spirit, throughout the whole process. What was the vibe like, during this shoot? I’m excited for little boys and girls to see people who look like them on screen. So, I’m proud of the cast, and the casting that (director) Guy and Disney put together. It’s certainly something that I was missing in my childhood.
It’s not often that you can go to the movie theater and see all people of color represented like this. MENA MASSOUD: I’m especially proud of the representation and the ethnically diverse casting that was put together for this. Really, it’s a question of how we’d like people to leave the cinema.
We want people to leave with a sense of positivity and, hopefully, a sense of freshness. It’s hard to be specific about what it is that you’re supposed to derive from it, other than a sensation that can only really be encapsulated by a very positive version of being uncynical. I would say that it’s how you leave the cinema. In the end, it’s what you’re left with, in terms of a sensation, by the end of the film. GUY RITCHIE: I suppose it’s the entire process. While at a conference at the film’s Los Angeles press junket, co-stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott, along with filmmaker Guy Ritchie, talked about what they’re most excited about with this release, the vibe of the shoot, finding a way to connect with the Genie, how they were able to incorporate improvisation into the role, the incredible song-and-dance performances, enhancing the female empowerment of Princess Jasmine, adding a new song, whether Smith kept one of this character’s turbans, and what wish he’d like to make.Ĭollider: What are you most excited about, for people to see with Aladdin?
When the two cross paths and learn that they each long to break free from what is expected of them, they find themselves caught up in an evil scheme that leads them directly to a magic oil lamp and the larger than life Genie ( Will Smith) inside of it, who has the power to grant wishes and the hope that those wishes will be used wisely. In this live-action adaptation of the Disney animated classic Aladdin from director Guy Ritchie, a lovable street rat ( Mena Massoud) who has made the streets of Agrabah his home would gladly leave his life of thievery behind, while Princess Jasmine ( Naomi Scott) longs to experience life outside of the palace and among the people.