Current Events > Jasmine (Aladdin) to be played by a black girl

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ok, whatever. I literally just had a 1.5 hour phone conversation with a girl who was in the running to be a Princess (She was going for Belle, would have been a better Jasmine). She didn't because she had a daughter and couldn't upend her life.

Anyway, said girl was half Mexican. Disney is ok with changing ethnicity.

Will as the genie is a much bigger deal. I really like him as an actor, but he's not capable of filling those shoes.
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pegusus123456 posted...

scar the 1 posted...

That just goes to show that you don't know what generic means.

I know what it means, but generic things still have an origin. Like a generic Egyptian city would probably just be based on Cairo.

Yeah, but the type of Byzantine architecture that we associate with Arabic is quite widespread in Asia. Which is why I think they went for a generic city, not a specific one. But whatever man, go ahead and think that Baghdad is a generic city.
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will you two just kiss already? you got so much in common
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DrizztLink posted...

Will as the genie is a much bigger deal. I really like him as an actor, but he's not capable of filling those shoes.

In Will's defense, I don't think anyone on the planet could fill those shoes.

I still think it's shit casting though. >_>
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scar the 1 posted...

Yeah, but the type of Byzantine architecture that we associate with Arabic is quite widespread in Asia. Which is why I think they went for a generic city, not a specific one. But whatever man, go ahead and think that Baghdad is a generic city.

Tbh, you just using the word Byzantine makes me think you know a shitload more about this than I do, so I'll concede.
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Eh, I haven't been interested in these live-action remakes anyway, so I don't really care who they cast for them.
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scar the 1 posted...

pegusus123456 posted...

scar the 1 posted...

That just goes to show that you don't know what generic means.

I know what it means, but generic things still have an origin. Like a generic Egyptian city would probably just be based on Cairo.

Yeah, but the type of Byzantine architecture that we associate with Arabic is quite widespread in Asia. Which is why I think they went for a generic city, not a specific one. But whatever man, go ahead and think that Baghdad is a generic city.

Agrabah is the central location of the popular 1992 Disney animated feature film, Aladdin. It is located near the Jordan River (as the narrator tells during the first minutes of the film) and is ruled by the Sultan.
Though commonly believed to be inspired by the Taj Mahal and the city of Agra in India, Agrabah's most prominent feature of its palace and its marketplace were inspired by Arabic and Persian architecture. [...] But after being asked Disney revealed that Agrabah was actually an anagram for Baghdad, the city that was originally planned to be the movies setting but later on changed due to political issues that were occurring at the time.

From the wiki.
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pegusus123456 posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Yeah, but the type of Byzantine architecture that we associate with Arabic is quite widespread in Asia. Which is why I think they went for a generic city, not a specific one. But whatever man, go ahead and think that Baghdad is a generic city.

Tbh, you just using the word Byzantine makes me think you know a shitload more about this than I do, so I'll concede.

Just according to keikaku
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buddhamonster posted...

From the wiki.

We shoulda checked that from the start I feel like.
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buddhamonster posted...

Agrabah was actually an anagram for Baghdad

It's been a while....but I'm pretty sure 'anagram' meant rearranging the letters to make a new word. ~_^
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Honestly, this was the one live action remake I was most interested in how it was going to play out. Will Smith as Genie seems fine, though I feel he'll always be stuck below Robin Williams, regardless of how well he does it. I wonder if they'll try to give "Friend Like Me" a rap rendition.
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The only thing upsetting about this, is Will Smith as the Genie. He doesn't have anywhere near the same abilities as Robin Williams did.
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the amount of people saying smith doesnt have the talent that Williams had is pretty large.

In CE's opinion, who CAN fulfill this role for genie then?
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kkTheKiller42 posted...

the amount of people saying smith doesnt have the talent that Williams had is pretty large.

In CE's opinion, who CAN fulfill this role for genie then?

Kevin Spacey.
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Dis is da last straw
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Guys

It's an Aladdin movie. Chill out

Will Smith as the genie sounds like it'll be hilarious...but it's just a movie.

No need to argue :)

Holy fuck mods, close topics with blatantly false information. There's a reason this site is dying.

Shoulda got shaq for the genie
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I know nobody will measure up to Robin as the genie but Will isn't the best of choices
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We need Sinbad to play Genie
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The Jasmine actress is well cast, no issues with her.

Will Smith in this role is ridiculous though.
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Featuring: Will Smith as Will Smith
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so, people are against Smith playing Genie because they believe he's unable to play Robin Williams well?

like others have said, Genie from the animated movie was basically Robin Williams playing himself. that was fine, though, since it made for a great character, but idk if we should judge someone for being unable to emulate another actor's performance when they should be doing their own interpretation, anyway.
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pegusus123456 posted...

scar the 1 posted...

Yeah, but the type of Byzantine architecture that we associate with Arabic is quite widespread in Asia. Which is why I think they went for a generic city, not a specific one. But whatever man, go ahead and think that Baghdad is a generic city.

Tbh, you just using the word Byzantine makes me think you know a shitload more about this than I do, so I'll concede.

Nah, he's speculating, just like we all are. The original story features Aladdin as some dude from China who releases a djinn (Aka genie), an Arabian mythological being. Aladdin enriches himself and macks on a sultan's daughter. Apparently there's not much else that ties the story specifically to the Middle East or India, for example, but there are Muslim references. Disney can change whatever they want because it's all fiction anyway, and was apparently written by a French guy. Guaranteed some white people and some people of color will find something to be upset about, regardless of how Disney handles it.
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Naomi Scott
Black

lol
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Arabia is literally the entire peninsula that make up the Middle East. A black girl would be just as accurate as a white or Indian person...bout the only way to be wrong is a Latina or Asian chick anthropologically speaking.
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Can't wait for genie to say "AL HELL NAW!"
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Disney should use all their money to make a time machine just to save Robin Williams.

SSJGrimReaper posted...

Can't wait for genie to say "AL HELL NAW!"

"Welcome to Earth!"
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Good casting choice. She's sexy. She looks like she could be Middle Eastern. And I like Jasmine having a darker complexion anyway.

WaterLink posted...

Also who's the dude that said Will Smith has no range? Like Pursuit of Happyness and I am Legend are great movies where he's shown he can take on those drama roles. And he can have silly roles like MiB and Bad Boys and be funny as well. Gtfoh with that no range crap

will smith is an absolute shit actor and is entirely outclassed in any dramatic role he's in
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But she's Indian.
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boxington posted...

uh, she's of Indian descent

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ZeroX91 posted...

Arabia is literally the entire peninsula that make up the Middle East. A black girl would be just as accurate as a white or Indian person...bout the only way to be wrong is a Latina or Asian chick anthropologically speaking.

Anthropologically speaking, wouldn't "Indian" be referring to hundreds of different ethnicities all at once? I know Indian people who look Chinese, I know Indian people who are really dark, and I know Indian people I couldn't tell apart from Pakistani people. Quite a large spread no? Likewise I know Pakistani people who look "Indian" as well as Pakistani people I would sooner think were Persian or Iraqi.
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That's the chick from Power Rangers

I'm eager to see what she looks like in that Arabian bikini outfit.

scar the 1 posted...

ZeroX91 posted...

Arabia is literally the entire peninsula that make up the Middle East. A black girl would be just as accurate as a white or Indian person...bout the only way to be wrong is a Latina or Asian chick anthropologically speaking.

Anthropologically speaking, wouldn't "Indian" be referring to hundreds of different ethnicities all at once? I know Indian people who look Chinese, I know Indian people who are really dark, and I know Indian people I couldn't tell apart from Pakistani people. Quite a large spread no? Likewise I know Pakistani people who look "Indian" as well as Pakistani people I would sooner think were Persian or Iraqi.

Sort of. India has a different enough culture that you wouldn't consider them the same people.
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I'm going to be honest, I was kinda hoping she would be darker. But I still approve of the casting choice.

All this Agrabah talk reminded me of this nugget of political ignorance across the spectrum

A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 30% of Republicans and 19% of Democrats say they support “bombing Agrabah” – the fictional nation portrayed in the Disney movie Aladdin. This is not a surprising result. Pollsters have long known that it is easy to get survey respondents to express opinions about nonexistent legislation, such as the “Metallic Metals Act.” It is also easy to elicit survey responses that reveal widespread scientific ignorance. For example, one recent poll found that 80 percent of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods containing DNA.”
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WaterLink posted...

To be fair, who could really replicate Robin Williams as Genie?

Eddie Murphy could.
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Robin Williams just played himself as the genie. Literally. The character is just an eccentric high energy genie who cares about alladin. I don't see why will smith can't play that role. He's playing the genie, hes not playing Robin Williams.

The Great Muta 22 posted...

All this Agrabah talk reminded me of this nugget of political ignorance across the spectrum

A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that 30% of Republicans and 19% of Democrats say they support “bombing Agrabah” – the fictional nation portrayed in the Disney movie Aladdin. This is not a surprising result. Pollsters have long known that it is easy to get survey respondents to express opinions about nonexistent legislation, such as the “Metallic Metals Act.” It is also easy to elicit survey responses that reveal widespread scientific ignorance. For example, one recent poll found that 80 percent of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods containing DNA.”

I wonder what percentage of people are just being a dick when it comes to things like that.


"Do you think women's right to vote should be revoked?"
"Would you support tripling taxes?"
"Should the US army invade Tatooine?"

"Sure." ;)

Will Smith as Will Smith as Genie

Bad choice imo
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YookaLaylee posted...

boxington posted...

uh, she's of Indian descent

Yah, I googled her and she definitely looks like it and her mom's indian.

As long as Aladdin is good and Will Smith can pull off genie, I'll enjoy it.
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What!? Aladdin is about to magic carpet bomb Israel?
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This should be the live action Aladdin movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tyt0FYTNUg
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Lorenzo_2003 posted...

SSJGrimReaper posted...

Can't wait for genie to say "AL HELL NAW!"

"Welcome to Earth!"

Earf
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She's not Black by any means.
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Knowledge_King posted...

She's not Black by any means.

I'm thinking TC just read her name on some news congregate, assumed Naomi could only be a black name and ran to CE without even opening the article first.