'Aladdin 2' in the works as Disney plans sequel, with Mena Massoud expected to star

Disney's hit adaptation of Aladdin is set to return.

2 min read

14 February, 2020

Mena Massoud attends the premiere of Disney's 'Aladdin' [Getty]

A sequel to Disney's blockbuster Aladdin is in the works, with Mena Massoud, Will Smith and Naomi Scott expected to return to their roles of Aladdin, Genie and Jasmine.

Guy Ritchie is also expected to return to direct 'Aladdin 2', although no offers have been signed with the cast or crew.

The film will be written by John Gatins and Andrea Berloff, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ritchie's reboot of the animated classic Aladdin was released in May and went on to make a $1 billion worldwide.

It is only the fourth live-action adaption to cross the billion-dollar global box office milestone.

Aladdin's plot is drawn from a centuries-old Middle Eastern folk tale that features in the Arabian Nights and was retold in a 1992 Disney cartoon.

The nineties animation had two sequels, but sources told Variety that this latest film will be completey original and not based on previous movies.

Aladdin is the story of a street urchin who finds a magic lantern containing a genie and falls in love with a rebellious princess, Jasmine.

The 2019 remake starred Hollywood heavyweight Will Smith as the genie, English actress Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Canadian-Egyptian Mena Massoud as Aladdin.

Massoud admitted in December that he hasn't had a single audition since starring in the blockbuster Disney hit.

Read more: Aladdin: A whole new world for diversity in Hollywood

Born to Egyptian parents, the actor revealed that he is often viewed as a "wild card choice, in a room of Caucasian guys".

Voicing his frustration, Massoud said "People have these ideas in their head. I'm sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition?".

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