Disney plotting live-action 'Aladdin' sequel

Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud in Aladdin (Credit: Disney)
Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud in Aladdin (Credit: Disney)

A sequel to the billion-dollar live-action Aladdin movie is in the works at Disney, according to reports.

Confirmed to write it are John Gatins, who wrote Kong: Skull Island, and Andrea Berloff, who penned NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, writers are looking at other potential stories from the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales One Thousand and One Nights, which as well as the tale of Aladdin also include stories like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor.

It's not yet known whether Guy Ritchie will be back to direct, but Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith are expected to reprise their roles as Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and the Genie (though according to Variety offers haven't been made yet).

Will Smith as the Genie in Aladdin (Credit: Disney)
Will Smith as the Genie in Aladdin (Credit: Disney)

The live-action remake was something of a surprise hit, after the production was plagued with bad press.

Early iterations of Smith's Genie were widely mocked online, with doubts over whether Ritchie would pull off a large scale Disney project.

Read more: Disney has made £5.7 million from its remakes in a decade

And though the movie got middling reviews, it raked in just over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, helping Disney to a record-breaking year at the box office.

The movie was based on the classic 1992 animation, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, with music from the legendary Alan Menken, and the late Robin Williams turning in an iconic performance as the Genie.

It sits among recent Disney remakes of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.