Will Smith Might Play The Genie In Live-Action Aladdin Remake

Aladdin is one of several live-action remakes of animated Disney classics that are currently in development. Guy Ritchie was announced as director back in October, and it has now been reported that Will Smith is in talks to play the Genie.

According to Deadline, discussions with Smith about the role are "early." The part was played by the late Robin Williams in Disney's original 1992 animated hit.

This isn't the first time that Smith has been in linked with one of Disney's live-action remakes. In January it was reported that he was in talks to appear in Dumbo, but ultimately nothing came of this.

Ritchie is best known for Snatch and the Sherlock Holmes films, with his big-budget fantasy movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword hitting theaters in May. The new Aladdin film has a script from John August, who wrote the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

Other live-action Disney remakes in the works include Mulan, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and a sequel to last year's hugely successful The Jungle Book.