Aladdin remake: Will Smith promises Genie WILL be blue – amid backlash to first image

The movie is the latest to be given Disney’s live-action treatment, and fans of the original have been joking on Twitter today that its first image makes it look more like a regional panto than a high-budget blockbuster. It seems Will Smith’s Genie, in particular, is not going down especially well. But taking to Instagram, he promised his spin on the role WILL be blue.

“BAM!! First look at the Genie, Princess Jasmine, and #Aladdin!” he wrote, alongside Entertainment Weekly’s front cover image.

“Check Me Rockin’ the Top Knot Ponytail Vibes in @entertainmentweekly (and yes, I’m gonna be BLUE! 🙂 ).”

Aladdin’s stage productions have not had a blue genie, but that hadn’t stopped many people from voicing their concerns about this live-action iteration.

“Oof. We gonna skip #Aladdin and just wait for #LionKing,” remarked one user.

“Ok I cant shut up about this, but I legit thought we were going to get a cgi blue genie like from the cartoon with Will Smith doing the voice? #Aladdin” said someone else, as the Aladdin hashtag began trending.

Another Twitter user remarked: “CONFUSED MAN SEEKS ANSWERS: Why does Will Smith look like he’s playing the lead in the UKs worst panto ever? What happened Will?”

Director Guy Ritchie told EW: “The great thing about the role of the Genie is that it’s essentially a hyperbole for who that individual actor is, so it’s a wonderful platform and tapestry for an actor to fill his boots on.”

And Smith added: “Whenever you’re doing things that are iconic, it’s always terrifying.

“The question is always: Where was there meat left on the bone? Robin [Williams] didn’t leave a lot of meat on the bone with the character.”

The movie is out in May and the magazine’s story confirms that the CGI of Smith’s Genie isn’t ready to be revealed yet.

But Ritchie teased: “I like the fact that our Genie has an ego and is a little bit vain and he cares about how he’s presented because he’s been doing this for a very long time.”

Also out next year are live-action versions of Dumbo and The Lion King.

Aladdin is out on May 24.