Film Critics and More React in Shock and Disbelief to Will Smith’s ‘Aladdin’ Genie
Zack Sharf
Will Smith told Entertainment Weekly last December his version of the Genie in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming live-action “Aladdin” would “stand out as unique even in the Disney world,” and the 50-year-old actor certainly wasn’t lying. Disney finally unveiled Smith’s CGI-infused blue genie in a special trailer that aired during the 2019 Grammy Awards (see photo above) and it didn’t take long for shock and disbelief to erupt on social media in reaction to the footage.
The look of Smith’s Genie was widely mocked by film reporters and general “Aladdin fans,” with comparisons ranging from Tobias in “Arrested Development” to the thumb people in “Spy Kids” and the invisible “Bird Box” monster that makes people kill themselves when they look at it. Smith told EW he was going to bring a previously unseen “hip-hop flavor” to the character, who was famously voiced by Robin Williams in Disney’s 1992 animated movie.
“Whenever you’re doing things that are iconic, it’s always terrifying,” Smith told EW about taking on the role. “The question is always: Where was there meat left on the bone? Robin didn’t leave a lot of meat on the bone with the character… I started to feel confident that I could deliver something that was an homage to Robin Williams but was musically different. Just the flavor of the character would be different enough and unique enough that it would be in a different lane, versus trying to compete.”
Disney will release “Aladdin” in theaters nationwide May 24. Check out the best reactions to Smith’s Genie below.
When you’re currently having a very tough time being Film Twitter’s Guy Ritchie apologist. pic.twitter.com/OWjGdNgRsH
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) February 11, 2019
everyone at disney is high on bath salts and this image is making my brain feel haunted rn pic.twitter.com/1j5cCM5kkp
— britt hates (@MissBrittHayes) February 11, 2019
The Will Smith genie makes me feel the same way I feel when a celebrity dies: Nauseous, sad, and like I can’t wait to tell everybody about it
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) February 11, 2019
Literally out loud shrieked at Will Smith genie
— Esther Zuckerman (@ezwrites) February 11, 2019
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) February 11, 2019
NOT THE CHARACTER WHO SHOULD BE SHIRTLESS pic.twitter.com/zd1x0QSOoD
— Kevin Fallon (@kpfallon) February 11, 2019
re: live action simba: “take my money”
re: live action genie: “remove my eyes immediately i never want to see again” pic.twitter.com/88EjDtJg71— David Farrier (@davidfarrier) February 11, 2019
Honestly the Will Smith genie feels like a spoiler for BIRD BOX because I finally understand what image would make them so fascinated but also want to kill themselves
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) February 11, 2019
Remember when the EW images came out for Aladdin and everyone was like oh why isn’t Will Smith blue as the genie?!? And now we have THIS https://t.co/Hm0MLXMdNZ
— Allison Keene (@keeneTV) February 11, 2019
Will Smith genie is what appears in my room when I have sleep paralysis pic.twitter.com/NzMDOgvkkz
— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) February 11, 2019
Why does Will Smith’s Genie look like he’s a thumb person from Spy Kids
— Jackson McHenry (@McHenryJD) February 11, 2019
Why is he so cgi, why did he even necessarily have to be blue. Aladdin and Jasmine have different outfits, why not just Will Smith in a cool genie outfit
— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) February 11, 2019
I was really excited for this until i saw will smith as the genie and now I can’t stop laughing https://t.co/xO2pTUTjnY
— Francesca (@BarstoolFran) February 11, 2019
I think fans wanted the genie blue, but I think they were OK with skinny Will Smith genie. This looks weird. pic.twitter.com/HhWod0H0im
— Gregory Ellwood – Playlist 🎬 (@TheGregoryE) February 11, 2019
