Your Local Guardian:

Will Smith takes a selfie of cast members Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Marwan Kenzari, on the set of the new live action adaptation of the 1992 classic animated feature ALADDIN.

Production is currently underway at Longcross Studios in Chertsey, Surrey.

This new version is directed by our very own Guy Ritchie and features the inspired casting of two-time Oscar® nominee Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in Black”) as the Genie who has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses his magic lamp.

The “Aladdin” cast includes: Mena Massoud (Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”) as Aladdin, the hapless but lovable street rat who is smitten with the Sultan’s daughter. Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Princess Jasmine, the Sultan’s beautiful daughter who wants to have a say in how she lives her life. Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, an evil sorcerer who devises a nefarious plot to unseat the Sultan and rule Agrabah himself and Navid Negahban (“Homeland”) as the Sultan, the ruler of Agrabah who is eager to find a proper husband for his daughter, Jasmine.

Once again the eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar®-winning lyricists Howard Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Tim Rice (“The Lion King”) as well as two new songs written by  Menken and Oscar® and Tony Award® winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “Dear Evan Hansen”).

As much as I am a little tired of every Disney animated classic being transferred into a carbon copy live-action telling of the original, I do think this version will be a big hit as the role of the fast-talking motor mouth and witty Genie is perfect for Will Smith.

I'm sure it will be like a whole new world! (sorry)

No release dates as yet but will keep you informed.