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Guy Ritchie in line to direct live-action Aladdin for Disney

Aladdin… Guy Ritchie being eyed to direct live-action version for Disney – Credit: Disney/Variety
Aladdin… Guy Ritchie being eyed to direct live-action version for Disney – Credit: Disney/Variety

Aladdin is about to get some wallop, with news that Disney is eyeing up Guy Ritchie to helm a live-action version of the classic tale.

The ‘Lock, Stock’ director is said to be in negotiations for the movie, which will retool the Oscar-winning 1992 animation.

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It’s reportedly all thanks to producer Dan Lin, who worked with Ritchie on his revisionist ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movies, and will be collaborating with Disney for ‘Aladdin’.

The original featured Scott Weigner as the street-savvy thief in the fictional city of Agrabah, with Robin Williams famously playing the role of the Genie, a part he almost wholly ad-libbed.

It also won Alan Menken an Oscar for its original score at the Academy Awards the following year.

This version has been written by John August, who’s worked extensively with Tim Burton, penning movies like ‘Big Fish’, ‘Frankenweenie’ and Burton’s version of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

It’s said to be a faithful take on the original, bringing in its musical elements.

How the Genie will be portrayed is not clear as yet, but it will be a struggle to emulate Williams’ singular performance.

Of late, Ritchie has helmed the ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ reboot with Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill, with his next jaunt, ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword due out next March.

Disney, meanwhile, has a raft of live-action versions of its classic tale in the pipeline, following the success of its ‘Jungle Book’ reworking, which made a staggering $966 million at the box office.

Also coming is the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ movie, with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, with ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Mulan’, ‘Dumbo’ and a Cruella De Vil origin story also on the way.