Disney went for peak drama last night when they unveiled the first snippet of footage from the upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin. Wide shots of a sun-scorched desert are followed by wide shots of the ever-imposing Cave of Wonders that lead into a wide shot of the massive trove of riches within - see the pattern?
The camera cuts in as the first few notes of "Prince Ali" blare from unseen brass and we see the pivotal moment Aladdin (Mena Massoud) has found the mystical lamp that contains the vibrant, wish-granting genie (Will Smith).
Like other animated classics that have been run through Disney's live-action machine, Aladdin will stay mostly true to its source material. Though the company was met with some side-eye when they created a new, white prince (Billy Magnussen) to vie against Aladdin for Jasmine's (Naomi Scott) affection, the overall casting has been appropriate for a fairy tale based on stories from One Thousand and One Nights, the Arabic equivalent of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Watch, below.