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Will Smith responds to Aladdin co-star claiming he's been shunned by Hollywood

Smith played Genie in the live-action Disney film

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 05 December 2019 09:41 GMT
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Disney's Aladdin trailer

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Will Smith has responded to Aladdin co-star Mena Massoud’s claim Hollywood has shunned him since the live-action remake was released.

Despite taking the starring role in one of the biggest hits of 2019, Massoud said that he is yet to have “a single audition” and hasn’t been allowed “in the room” for major roles.

“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” Massoud told The Daily Beast. “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin. ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things.

"I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out.”

On the red carpet of new animated film Spies in Disguise, Smith – who played the role of Genie in Guy Ritchie’s Disney film – told Variety: “He is a spectacular actor, and he has nothing to worry about.”

The Canadian actor beat out more than 2,000 actors to portray Aladdin. The film has grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide since its release in May, and is currently the 34th highest-grossing film of all time.

Massoud, who also appears in Jack Ryan, currently stars in the Hulu action serious Reprisal.

Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine in the film, recently starred as one of the central trio in Elizabeth Banks’ Charlie’s Angels reboot.

Spies in Disguise is released in UK cinemas on 27 December 2019.

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