Guy Ritchie will cast Indian actors as Aladdin and Jasmin after facing backlash
Looks like Disney's live-action remake of Aladdin may finally see authentic representation of characters.
According to Mumbai Mirror, the Hollywood director has now set eyes on Indian actors for his upcoming film after facing backlash for allegedly planning on casting Tom Hardy as Jafar in Aladdin.
Ritchie has roped in casting director Tess Joseph to help him find actors suitable for the roles. Joseph has been touring India and holding auditions for the the past few weeks, the team hopes to finalise the actors soon. He is known for finding fitting actors for roles and is credited with picking suitable Indian artists for Life of Pi, The Namesake and Lion.
"The basic requirement are actors who can sing like Broadway artists. While some popular actor-singers have already auditioned, the team is still looking for its leads. The live-action film will be shot in London later this year," a source close to the production told the publication.
Last month, when rumours of Tom Hardy being cast as the film's villain, Jafar, made headlines, fans took social media by storm protesting against such a decision, claiming that 'representation matters.' Guess the filmmakers realised the importance of accurate portrayal in films.
Ritchie has some hit Hollywood films under his belt like Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000) and RocknRolla (2008).