DUBAI: Will Smith is reportedly in talks to play the role of Genie in Guy Ritchie’s live-action version of Aladdin.
Deadline reported that Smith is in the early stages of talks to star in the Disney film.
The report follows casting calls for Middle Eastern-looking auditionees in what seems to be an attempt to avoid whitewashing by the filmmakers.
The casting call asks for actors between the ages of 18-25 to apply for the coveted lead roles of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine and states that singing and dance skills are “a plus.”
Disney’s original animated version of Aladdin featuring the voice of the late Robin Williams hit cinema screens in 1992, and became the highest-grossing film of the year. A pair of straight-to-video sequels followed, but Williams reportedly stated in his will that his out-takes from the original film could never be used to make another sequel.
The new Aladdin movie is to be the latest in Disney’s successful series of live-action remakes based on its classic animated films.
“Beauty And The Beast,” starring Emma Watson as Belle, was one of the most anticipated movies of 2017 and has so far grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
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As it hit the pitch, Catan leapt into action and started performing rudimentary CPR, pumping the bird’s ribcage.
“When I started the chest compressions, it began moving its legs. The more it moved, the more I kept going,” he said.
When it started breathing, he carried it off the pitch to medical staff, who took care of it.
By that evening, videos had gone viral on social media and Catan said his phone began ringing nonstop.
“We’d lost the match, so I wasn’t in a good mood. Then overnight the messages started coming in. We were shocked by how fast it spread,” he said.
“It’s been in the press in Brazil, Italy, America...”
Since the Istanbul match, Catan has received animal rights organization PETA’s “Hero to Animals award.”
Originally from the northern Turkish city of Tokat where he lives with his two cats, Catan had dreamed of playing football since childhood.
The story ended sadly, however, as the bird later died, according to a commentator who witnessed the incident.
Yurdum Spor is considering adding a seagull to its logo in tribute.
Will Smith ‘in talks’ to play Genie in Disney’s Aladdin
Will Smith ‘in talks’ to play Genie in Disney’s Aladdin
Turkish footballer hailed as hero after saving stunned seagull
- Gani Catan, captain of amateur club Yurdum Spor, raced across the pitch Sunday after a ball knocked the low-flying bird to the ground
- “I acted on instinct, or maybe I once saw someone do this on a dog or a cat,” he said
ISTANBUL: A Turkish amateur footballer has gone viral for saving a seagull’s life with CPR after it was struck down during an Istanbul match.
Gani Catan, a 32-year-old accountant and captain of amateur club Yurdum Spor, raced across the pitch Sunday after a ball knocked the low-flying bird to the ground.
“I acted on instinct, or maybe I once saw someone do this on a dog or a cat,” he told AFP a few days later as he watched the club’s youth teams train.
As it hit the pitch, Catan leapt into action and started performing rudimentary CPR, pumping the bird’s ribcage.
“When I started the chest compressions, it began moving its legs. The more it moved, the more I kept going,” he said.
When it started breathing, he carried it off the pitch to medical staff, who took care of it.
By that evening, videos had gone viral on social media and Catan said his phone began ringing nonstop.
“We’d lost the match, so I wasn’t in a good mood. Then overnight the messages started coming in. We were shocked by how fast it spread,” he said.
“It’s been in the press in Brazil, Italy, America...”
Since the Istanbul match, Catan has received animal rights organization PETA’s “Hero to Animals award.”
Originally from the northern Turkish city of Tokat where he lives with his two cats, Catan had dreamed of playing football since childhood.
The story ended sadly, however, as the bird later died, according to a commentator who witnessed the incident.
Yurdum Spor is considering adding a seagull to its logo in tribute.
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