Aladdin Star Mena Massoud on His Screen Test and Return of Jafar

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'Aladdin' Star Mena Massoud on the Classic Sequence He Was Most Excited to Recreate

By Tom Reimann

Published May 23, 2019

The actor also answers whether he'd be down for a live-action 'Return of Jafar'.

It’s a good bet that just about everyone in the world is going to be watching Mena Massoud this weekend when Disney’s live-action reimagining of Aladdin opens in theaters. The remake is directed by Guy Ritchie, from a screenplay written by Ritchie and John August based on a script by Ron Clements, John Musker, and Ted Elliot & Terry Rosio. Massoud heads a strong cast including Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Nasim Pedrad, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, and Billy Magnussen. Aladdin opens in theaters this weekend, so check it out and pay close attention to Abu’s fancy coat.

aladdin-will-smith-mena-massoud — Image via Disney

Massoud plays the title role, and we got to sit down with him to talk about his star turn as the famous street rat. Take a look at the video interview below, followed by a list of what we discussed. Aladdin opens in theaters everywhere on May 24th.

Mena Massoud discusses:

What it’s like playing an iconic character in a huge Disney production.
The most challenging aspect of playing an action hero who also sings and dances.
What classic sequence he was most looking forward to recreating.
Whether he felt any pressure taking on the role.
How he felt during his first screen test.
I also got him to speculate on how Aladdin and Abu met
Whether Aladdin paid for Abu’s tiny outfit.
Would he consider doing a live-action version of The Return of Jafar?

aladdin-remake-image-mena-massoud — Image via Disney

Here’s the official synopsis of Aladdin:

A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” The film stars Will Smith as the Genie; Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia; Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim.