Who's who in the Disney live-action Aladdin remake?

When Disney started remaking their classic animated films into live-action, it was inevitable that Aladdin would be one to receive the makeover. What wasn’t so inevitable was the choice of Guy Ritchie to direct, a man best known for his British gangster films.

Ever since that announcement, people have been closely monitoring this film’s production. In particular, its casting process has been one of the most scrutinized of all time. This was due to fears that it wouldn’t be culturally representative, following reports that Disney was supposedly struggling to find actors of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent.

Read on for a roundup of who’s who, and an introduction to some of the film's rising stars.

Guy Ritchie, Director

Having made his name with British gangster films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Ritchie's career to date doesn't exactly scream Disney. However, big-budget Hollywood filmmaking is not a whole new world to him. He also directed the successful Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films. Disney will be hoping it’s that Ritchie who turns up, rather than the one whose last film, King Arthur: Legend of The Sword, miserably flopped.

Mena Massoud, Aladdin

An Egyptian-Canadian, Mena Massoud has starred in TV series Open Heart and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. He will be the one tasked with bringing the character of Aladdin to life. While not a total newcomer, this will be most people’s introduction to Massoud. If he can capture Aladdin's charm in his journey from street rat to prince, then Massoud will start to become a lot more familiar to mainstream audiences.

Naomi Scott, Jasmine

Last seen in Power Rangers, and also set to appear in Elizabeth Banks’ upcoming Charlie’s Angels reboot, Naomi Scott is about to become Hollywood’s next big rising star. Here, Scott is Princess Jasmine, the royal who rejects the role set out for her. The performances of Scott and Massoud are pivotal to this film’s success. Based on the parts that Scott has already been given elsewhere, the powers that be clearly think she’s up to the task.

Will Smith, Genie

Following in Robin Williams’ footsteps is no easy feat. However, if any actor has the energy and charisma to fill that lamp, it’s Will Smith. The biggest name in the cast, Smith will be relied upon to bring some of that old Fresh Prince magic and remind us all why he’s such a star. While we’ll never have another friend quite like Robin Williams, Smith should still be able to grant some of our wishes.

Marwan Kenzari, Jafar

An award-winning Dutch actor, Kenzari has already featured in Hollywood blockbusters Ben Hur, The Mummy and Murder on the Orient Express. Here he plays the villainous Jafar, and it will be interesting to see whether Kenzari approaches the role with tongue in cheek or fully commits to the character’s wickedness. Alongside co-stars Massoud and Scott, this film could open up a lot of new opportunities for Kenzari.

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This film will have a lot of pressure on its shoulders when it's released this summer, as many people have grown up with the animated original, and these actors will be hoping that they’re not considered worse than drawings. However, they're not the only ones who have brought these characters to life – ahead of the big film release, you can see another group of performers take on these roles in the stage production of Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre.

And to build anticipation even further, a first look at Will Smith's genie has just dropped – here's the new trailer: