Disney Developing ‘Aladdin’ Prequel ‘Genies’; ‘Aladdin’ Movie Could Follow
Tinker Bell’s getting aspinoff, Cinderella’s prince is getting aspinoff, and nowAladdin’s Genie is getting a spinoff, too. (Which wetotally called, by the way.) Disney is developingGenies, a live-action comedy adventure that’ll reveal how the jolly blue giant wound up in that tiny little lamp.
And don’t worry, Aladdin isn’t getting left out in the cold here either. The tentative plan is for Genies to eventually lead into an Aladdin live-action movie. More details on the Aladdin Genie movie after the jump.
THRreportsGeniesis being written byDamian ShannonandMark Swift.Tripp Vinsonis producing. No director or stars have been announced, and there’s no word yet on a start date or release date.
Based on an Arabic folk tale, Disney’s 1992 animated featureAladdinfollowed a street urchin who picks up a lamp containing a friendly Genie (famously voiced byRobin Williams) with the power to grant wishes. With the Genie’s help he wins the heart of Princess Jasmine, and he uses his final wish to set the Genie free.
Genieswill delve into the realm of the Genies, and explain how this particular Genie came to end up in Aladdin’s lamp. If all goes according to plan, the film will also set up a live-actionAladdinmovie.
Disney’s made a lot of money mining its animated vault for live-action source material.Maleficent(aSleeping Beautyretelling) andCinderellawere both hits, and updated versions ofThe Jungle Book,Beauty and the Beast,Mulan, andPinocchioare on the way.
Shannon and Swift are mostly known for horror movies includingFreddy vs. JasonandFriday the 13th. However, they’ve recently branched out into comedy, working on the long-gestatingBaywatchmovie and the Peter Dinklage leprechaun picO’Lucky Day. Both of those are set up at Paramount.
Vinson executive produced this summer’sSan Andreas, and is working on a couple of upcoming Disney projects includingPrince CharmingandBob the Musical. He previously served as exec producer onHansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
