Current Events > Aladdin star Mena Massoud hasn't got auditions or calls since doing Aladdin.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.themarysue.com/mena-massoud-lack-of-opportunity-post-aladdin/

One of the difficulties of being a non-white actor in Hollywood is that despite being in a hit film, despite that film making over a billion dollars, that exposure does not inherently lead to opportunity. That is a reality that Aladdin star Mena Massoud has become aware of following the success of the Disney live-action film. In a candid interview with The Daily Beast, the Egyptian-Canadian actor talked about that, despite the way it might seem on paper, playing that role did not lead to any calls or auditions. Im kind of tired of staying quiet about it, he says. I want people to know that its not always dandelions and roses when youre doing something like Aladdin. He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers. Its none of those things. I havent had a single audition since Aladdin came out. Massoud continues on to explain that a lot of people have the idea that hes already made it, but that isnt the case: []Im sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like Im not expecting you to be like, heres Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So, its not always what you think.

Whats happening to Massoud is common for a lot of actors of color. If you look at Academy Award winner Lupita Nyongo after 12 Years a Slave in 2013, the biggest lead roles she got after (that didnt involve mo-cap) were Queen of Katwe (2016), Black Panther (2018), and US (2019), all films directed by people of color (Mira Nair, Ryan Coogler and Jordan Peele). Its also happened to Halle Berry, Dev Patel, Gabourey Sidibe, and many more. The few that do get to make it and hold on to that flame of stardom are exceptions to the rule. Plus, we know Hollywood loves to have their constant rotation of the same big-name non-white actor of a chosen group. That leaves very little room for people to have careers that highlight their talent and ambitions, especially if they want to play more than stereotypes. Massouds first onscreen role was a character named al Qaeda #2 in the CW show Nikita, and he decided that he would not play roles like that anymore, but that means he ends up being, as he called it, a wild card when it comes getting picked: Theres always a wild card or two when youre casting, he says. Im usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, OK, lets see, like, two guys who arent. And maybe theyll be the wild card choice. Sadly, this reminds me a lot of Star Trek alumni Alexander Siddig. Despite being a delight on Deep Space Nine, being a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts a big chunk of his filmography is playing terrorist or terrorist-adjacent characters, despite his most notable role being a doctor.

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Man when call of duty 2 came out ce was creaming their pants

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He wasn't a very good actor in that movie tho.

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I remember seeing that shortly after this interview came out it was announced that the random white prince in the movie is getting his own spin-off and everyone was like "Uhhhhhhhhhh"
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Wait, the white prince that Jasmine was engaged to made it into the film? I thought that was dropped after backlash. All the more reason I'm grateful I never saw this mess of a film. <_<

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Skye Reynolds posted...

Wait, the white prince that Jasmine was engaged to made it into the film? I thought that was dropped after backlash. All the more reason I'm grateful I never saw this mess of a film. <_<

TBF Its actually really good.

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Is Halle Berry really an example of this? I mean they were mostly shitty movies but the work wasn't exactly infrequent and she was getting starring or prominent roles.

She doesn't get engaged to him. He's just... there. For like the entire film. In the background occasionally being really fucking dumb. Think Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters dumb. Jasmine is like "fuck that shit".

I have no idea why they keep him around, he's an obnoxious character and its clear Jasmine will never want anything to do with him, yet for some reason the film occasionally feels like we need to know what he's doing.

We don't. It's awful.

Narratively he serves the same purpose of the dude Rajah bites the pants off of in the original, just replace arrogant ass with dumber than gravel as a generic pwersonality trait, but whereas that dude fucks off when his role is done, for some reason the remake has him stick around.
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spikethedevil posted...

TBF Its actually really good.

Jasmine doesn't wear a bikini and Jaffar doesn't transform into a snake. How could it possibly be good?

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DeadBankerDream posted...

She doesn't get engaged to him. He's just... there. For like the entire film. In the background occasionally being really fucking dumb. Think Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters dumb. Jasmine is like "fuck that shit".

I have no idea why they keep him around, he's an obnoxious character and its clear Jasmine will never want anything to do with him, yet for some reason the film occasionally feels like we need to know what he's doing.

We don't. It's awful.

Narratively he serves the same purpose of the dude Rajah bites the pants off of in the original, just replace arrogant ass with dumber than gravel as a generic pwersonality trait, but whereas that dude fucks off when his role is done, for some reason the remake has him stick around.

Almost like they had the spin-off planned from the start!
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He's one of the leads in a show called Reprisal that came out a week ago. It's obviously nothing huge like Aladdin, but it's something. Although it is a Hulu original so I can see why he feels excluded lol.

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Skye Reynolds posted...

spikethedevil posted...

TBF Its actually really good.

Jasmine doesn't wear a bikini and Jaffar doesn't transform into a snake. How could it possibly be good?

It has the Hancock guy as Genie
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wait whats this about the white prince getting a spin off?


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spikethedevil posted...

TBF Its actually really good.

Not according to everyone else Ive talked to.

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AceMos posted...

wait whats this about the white prince getting a spin off?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/aladdin-prince-anders-spinoff-works-at-disney-1260300

In what marks a whole new world for Disney, the studio is developing its first spinoff from one of its live-action remakes.

Disney has hired Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme to pen a script for an Aladdin offshoot centered on Prince Anders, the scene-stealing character played by Billy Magnussen in the live-action film released earlier this year, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Magnussen would reprise the part in a feature, which is in early development for Disney+, the companys newly launched streaming service. The project is not a sequel to Aladdin, which is also in the planning stages at the studio.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who produced the billion dollar-grossing Aladdin, are back in the producers' seat via Rideback, their banner. Ridebacks Ryan Halprin will executive produce.

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What? Why?

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why just why

this would be like giving a spin off to to i cant even think of a joke this is just dumb

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Well, maybe its because...he was very basic and not memorable at all?

Wait, that Scottish bloke?

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The absolute last thing Disney needs is more white princes.

Seriously, the worship of royalty is outdated. It's sad to see people in the US glued to magazines focusing on the royal British family and their wives. Like, isn't the whole reason this country exists because we were over dealing with royalty? Why have we worshiped it from afar ever since?

Second, name one Disney prince who isn't white. Even Naveen, the African prince from The Princess and the Frog, is biracial with one white parent. In the Walt Disney World parade float, his actor is white. If we're going to continue to promote royalty, can't we have some royalty from other ethnic backgrounds?

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as much as disney pretend s its progressive you would think they would give a spin off to jasmine from what i understand she was well liked by people int he film


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Mowgli

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A solo Jasmine spinoff is a bit of a liability since she's a British woman playing an Arab princess. Since her love interest was an Arab, nobody complained. But if it's just her by herself, then all you're left with is a white woman playing an Arab woman. And that could be a headache for Disney.

<_<

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I really can't imagine anyone watching a show about Prince Anders.

He was so unfunny and there was literally nothing to his character other than being a literal halfwit.

What's the joke? He does something stupid and his manipulative court members try to use it to their advantage? What other joke can they make? Basically season 3 of Blackadder, but Blackadder is a side character and Dr. House is the hero.
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Lebronwon posted...

Sadly, this reminds me a lot of Star Trek alumni Alexander Siddig. Despite being a delight on Deep Space Nine, being a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts a big chunk of his filmography is playing terrorist or terrorist-adjacent characters, despite his most notable role being a doctor.

And D&D bewilderlingly wasted the fuck out of his character in Game of Thrones which sucks cuz its an awesome character in the books and Siddig was a great choice for him.

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Skye Reynolds posted...

A solo Jasmine spinoff is a bit of a liability since she's a British woman playing an Arab princess. Since her love interest was an Arab, nobody complained. But if it's just her by herself, then all you're left with is a white woman playing an Arab woman. And that could be a headache for Disney.

<_<

The movie makes it seem like its more along the way of Indian Mughal than Arab culture if you have to put a geographic location to it.
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AceMos posted...

as much as disney pretend s its progressive you would think they would give a spin off to jasmine from what i understand she was well liked by people int he film

Kathleen Kennedy: we need more women and people of color directing Star Wars films! Its gonna happen!

also Kathleen Kennedy: *assigns all SW films for the foreseeable future white, male directors*

To be fair a woman is directing the upcoming Obi Wan television series.

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Oh, right. I forgot about that. She's British and Indian. She might be able to do a solo adaptation without complaint. Playing members of other ethnic groups has become tricky. Not all forms of it are forbidden yet, but there is a narrowing window of what is or is not welcome by the public.

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Skye Reynolds posted...

She might be able to do a solo adaptation without complaint

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh that depends on whether they'd come with more clarity on:

DeadBankerDream posted...

The movie makes it seem like its more along the way of Indian Mughal than Arab culture if you have to put a geographic location to it.

or not
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lol. i thought mena massoud was the pretty girl in the movie.

Weirdly, hes one of the stars on a show that just released one week ago on Hulu. Do you think he auditioned for that before the Aladdin movie? Definitely possible but either way at least hes eating.

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Shablagoo posted...

Weirdly, hes one of the stars on a show that just released one week ago on Hulu. Do you think he auditioned for that before the Aladdin movie? Definitely possible but either way at least hes eating.

This is specifically in the time frame since the movie was released. He definitely had his role in Reprisal before that, and even the animated movie he's doing (Lamya's Poem) cast him before Aladdin came out.

E: Reprisal was all the way back in August 2018

https://deadline.com/2018/08/mena-massoud-joins-hulus-femme-fatale-pilot-reprisal-from-warren-littlefield-ae-studios-1202442723/
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Bio1590 posted...

This is specifically in the time frame since the movie was released. He definitely had his role in Reprisal before that, and even the animated movie he's doing (Lamya's Poem) cast him before Aladdin came out.

E: Reprisal was all the way back in August 2018

https://deadline.com/2018/08/mena-massoud-joins-hulus-femme-fatale-pilot-reprisal-from-warren-littlefield-ae-studios-1202442723/

Ah, well perhaps this role will increase his chances. The show sounds interesting.

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Shablagoo posted...

Ah, well perhaps this role will increase his chances. The show sounds interesting.

Unfortunately the show doesn't seem to be doing too well(with critics that is. They're fucking stupid though). Most of the praise it gets goes to Abigail Spencer it seems and rightfully so. She was fucking stunning. Not to mention it being a Hulu exclusive, I don't blame him for not banking on this to be his turnaround. I really liked the show though and thought he did a great job.

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No one saw that movie for any reason other than Will Smith

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Irony posted...

No one saw that movie for any reason other than Will Smith

This. That and the fact it was a remake to one of the most popular and successful Disney films Of all time.

Yeah it hit a billion. It had very little to do with your acting ability, bud. Thats the reality of the situation.

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That article is utter nonsense. Using Lupita Nyongo, Halle Berry, and Dev Patel as other examples? They're all big stars.
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i haven't seen the whole movie yet, only some bits and pieces here and there. and good god almighty did it look atrocious!

SailorGoon posted...

Unfortunately the show doesn't seem to be doing too well(with critics that is. They're fucking stupid though). Most of the praise it gets goes to Abigail Spencer it seems and rightfully so. She was fucking stunning. Not to mention it being a Hulu exclusive, I don't blame him for not banking on this to be his turnaround. I really liked the show though and thought he did a great job.

Is she the one playing the character getting revenge on everyone?

Ill have to check it out!

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He was very forgettable as Aladdin. Didnt do a bad job, but didnt do the role amazingly either.

Deadpool_18 posted...

Not according to everyone else Ive talked to.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/aladdin

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Lebronwon posted...

Gabourey Sidibe

wait, she's a real actress?
i thought she's just a meme for "hitler is proud woman of color".

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