Will Smith's Genie In Live-Action 'Aladdin': The Controversy Explained

Richard April 19, 2025

Alright, listen up, because I’m about to break this down for you. The live-action version of Disney’s Aladdin isn’t even hitting theaters until May 2019, but folks are already losing their minds over it—and not in the good way. Let me paint the picture: We’ve all gotten a peek at what Will Smith will look like as the Genie, and let’s just say, there’s a noticeable resemblance to Shaquille O’Neal’s character in Kazaam. Now, we’re not throwing shade, but someone on the Closer staff couldn’t help but notice the uncanny resemblance. And let’s be real, we’re not the only ones scratching our heads over this.

As soon as Entertainment Weekly unveiled the first look at Will as the Genie on their latest magazine cover via Twitter, the backlash hit the fan. People were quick to voice their opinions, and let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty. Memes and GIFs started flying left and right, from “I hate it” to “Kill it with fire.” Oof, that’s harsh. Some folks didn’t even need memes—they just came out swinging with their words, expressing their disappointment loud and clear. Take a look at the EW cover below to see what sparked all the drama.

We can show you the world… of Disney’s live-action #Aladdin! Get a shining, shimmering, splendid first look at the reimagined classic in our magical First Look issue: https://t.co/Kwkcdfen5v pic.twitter.com/7NbyiRRcLH
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— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 19, 2018

One person summed it up perfectly on Twitter, saying, “2018 has officially taken enough from me.” Another chimed in, “This looks more like a knockoff film than an actual film,” while a third added, “We’re already suffering, please don’t make us suffer more.” Look, the world is chaotic enough, but mess with our beloved Disney classics, and we’ll take to the streets in protest. To be fair, the movie’s still months away, so Disney’s got time to tweak things if needed. Maybe the final product will win fans over—or maybe it’ll spark even more outrage. Both outcomes are entirely possible.

Now, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the negativity, here’s a silver lining: Will Smith himself chimed in on Instagram, saying his character “will be blue” and explaining, “This is how the Genie looks in human/disguise form. My character will be CGI most of the movie.” So there you have it. If you say so, Will. Only time will tell how this all plays out.

What About the Rest of the Cast?

Let’s shift gears for a moment. While the Genie’s new look has sparked a whirlwind of criticism, it’s worth noting that people aren’t exactly throwing shade at the rest of the cast. Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine seem to be getting a warm welcome. But hey, if this movie doesn’t live up to expectations, we can always hold out hope for the live-action The Lion King or Dumbo. Fingers crossed, right?