Aladdinwould have been the best live-action candidate for a sequel, but it looks as if Disney is never going to make this happen. This harsh reality is even harder to accept since the House of Mouse had already confirmed that a script forAladdin 2was in the works. It was meant to again feature Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith, and other stars of the 2019 live-action remake ofAladdin, and it was speculated that the sequel would be based on the animated movieAladdin and the King of Thieves. After the massive success ofAladdin, it seemed that the live-action sequel was a shoo-in.
2019’sAladdinwas among the first wave oflive-action remakes of Disney’s Princess movies, and it was a hit. The Guy Ritchie film managed a whopping $1 billion at the global box office, with $91.5 million brought in during the opening weekend. The critical reception ofAladdinwas a touch less impressive, since the film only holds a 57% onRotten Tomatoes. However, the Popcornmeter score of 94% proves that this was a movie aimed directly at general audiences.This earnedAladdina chance to be the first ofDisney’s live-action remakesto get a sequel—but don’t hold your breath.
A Live-Action Aladdin 2 Probably Isn’t Happening
The Project Has Been Shelved
Thelive-actionAladdin 2was confirmed by Disney shortly afterAladdin’s success was apparent, and there has technically been no official cancellation. However, Massoud has since provided some rather bleak updates on the project. In 2022, the actor explained that some significant changes needed to be made to the script, but it sounded as ifAladdin 2was still actively in the works. Then, in 2023, Massoud responded to questions about the movie onTwitter(in a post that has since been deleted),stating thatAladdin 2was “very unlikely” to happen at this point.
Disney responded to none of Massoud’s claims, and this, combined with the lack of updates on the previously confirmed projects, indicates that the actor is entirely correct. After several financial and critical flops, 2023 brought some big changes for Disney, and CEO Bob Iger has since announced that the company would be scaling back on some big-budget projects.Aladdin 2would certainly fall into this category, especially if the sequel sought to bringAladdin and the King of Thievesto live-action.
An Aladdin Sequel Could Have Adapted King Of Thieves
The Animated Aladdin Sequel Would Have Been Perfect In Live-Action
Aladdin and the King of Thieveswas the 1996 sequel to the original animatedAladdinmovie. In the ’90s and 2000s, Disney’s animated sequels were typically of significantly lower quality and almost always direct-to-video releases. Most are hardly noteworthy, butKing of Thievesis one that managed a bit of traction. For one, the sequel actually had rather an impressive cast. The original voice cast, which included Robin Williams, Scott Weinger, and Linda Larkin, all returned, and were joined by John Rhys-Davies as Cassim, Aladdin’s father.
The story ofAladdin and the King of Thieveswas inspired by anotherOne Thousand and One Nightsstory,Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. It picked up just before Jasmine and Aladdin’s wedding, when the former street rat learned the identity of his father. Rhys-Davies character was the movie’s titular King of Thieves, and Aladdin’s effort to reconnect naturally only led to trouble.King of Thieveswas fun but a bit dark, full of drama and precisely the sort of flair that madeAladdinso successful.It would have been perfect for live-action, and Ritchie would have been perfect to direct.
Aladdin 2 Could Have Been A 1001 Nights Gangster Movie
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Part of the 2019Aladdin’s success is owed to its director, Guy Ritchie, who would have been simply perfect in bringingAladdin and the King of Thievesto live-action. Ritchie is best known for his gangster films, with projects likeSnatch(2000),Revolver(2005),RocknRolla(2008),The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(2015), and more serving as prime examples.A movie about Aladdin’s crime-boss father would have been right up Ritchie’s alley. So long as the director had brought the same sort of care to the live-action sequel as he did withAladdin,Aladdin2could have been perfection.
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best
Between his unique brand of gangster movies like Snatch and Hollywood reboots like Aladdin, director Guy Ritchie has a constant high-quality output.
Could Aladdin 2 Ever Be Made?
There Is Still A Very Small Chance
Unfortunately, the longer things go without any news, the less likely it seems thatAladdin 2will ever happen. It’s technically possible that the dusty script could be pulled from a drawer somewhere at Disney in the coming years, especially since the project itself was never officially canceled. However, several other factors would make it difficult forAladdin 2to ever become a reality. First, whileAladdinperformed well, several other live-action remakes, likeThe Little Mermaid,flopped at the box office. Disney may not have the budget for a project likeAladdin 2, but that’s not all.
It’s technically possible that the dusty script could be pulled from a drawer somewhere at Disney in the coming years, especially since the project itself was never officially canceled.
It has already been six years since 2019’sAladdinhit theaters, and this would make returning to the story far more complicated. The actors have naturally gotten older, which would make the short time jump ofAladdin and the King of Thievesdifficult. Scott, who played Jasmine inAladdin, is a higher profile star than she was back in 2019, and this would have made Disney’s budget situation all the stickier. Still,perhaps the greatest obstacle forAladdin 2would be the controversy surrounding actor Will Smithever since he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars Ceremony.
What Other Live-Action Disney Remakes Are Coming Out?
Disney Has Put Its Focus Elsewhere
Though Disney has pulled back its investment inAladdin, it hasn’t put the brakes on any and all live-action remake movies. It seems that Iger feels that a live-action sequel would be too much of a risk, but there are still several initial remakes of Disney animated movies in the works.Snow Whitewill hit theaters on July 31, 2025, and will be followed up byLilo & Stitchon July 11, 2025. Next will be the live-action remake ofMoana, which is a significant surprise considering the relatively recent release of the original animated movie. AfterMoana’s expected July 28, 2025 release date, there are several more Disney live-action remake movies expected to begin development.
Confirmed
TBD
Animated movies likeThe Hunchback of Notre Dame,The Aristocats,andHerculeshave all been confirmed. However, it’s difficult to tell whether these Disney confirmations mean any more than that ofAladdin 2. It appears thatthe House of Mouse is very choosy about how it currently spends its money. However, if any of the above projects happen to rake in the cash, more live-action remakes could be on the way. However, given all the obstacles keepingAladdin 2from becoming a reality, it’s difficult to say whether it will ever get its time in the sun—one way or another.
