Disney slammed over its decision to cast a white actor in live-action remake of Aladdin

THERE’S a brand-new character in the upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin, and people are furious. Here’s why.

A casting decision for the new live-action remake of Aladdin has caused major backlash for Disney.

DISNEY is being slammed over its decision to cast a white actor in the upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin, with a number of people taking to social media and accusing the studio giant of “whitewashing” the film’s plot.

It follows the announcement that Billy Magnussen, who played a prince in Disney’s Into the Woods, was slated to play Prince Anders, who was not a character in the 1992 animated version.

The Telegraph reported that Magnussen’s character would be Aladdin’s rival to winning over Princess Jasmine’s heart.

Social media critics have slammed the casting decision, with someone tweeting: “Should #actor Billy Magnussen step down as ‘Prince Anders’ the newly created white character in #Aladdin?”

“Why did they add a white prince to #Aladdin? This is going to be a disaster,” another Twitter user wrote.

The original animated Disney film was based on an Arab-style folktale and depicted the characters as being of Middle Eastern descent.

Why did they add a white prince to #Aladdin? This is going to be a disaster 🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/0Hjrs2FNzT

— Jovanny Evans (@jobonito) September 6, 2017

Disney can make a frame by frame remake of Beauty and the Beast, but Aladdin needs to be altered?! The animated film was perfect wtf! pic.twitter.com/pcz2k4rXyX

— ferdosa @ TIFF (@atomicwick) September 6, 2017

Disney shoehorned a white guy into the #Aladdin movie because they just gotta have a white person in a movie set in the Middle East pic.twitter.com/roxofsFWdk

— RJ Sharp (@RandallJSharp) September 6, 2017

#aladdin I am so confused to why they add a new white character to a complete story that is set in the Middle East?🤦🏽‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/71xzOpFXCS

— Nardy ☕️📚 (@NardosNy) September 6, 2017

This new character for #aladdin makes me sad to be white, the Aladdin world has no white people sorry but we don't need to be in everything pic.twitter.com/jaj2JWqn6m

— Ashley ®© ➰ (@Ashleyfangirl) September 6, 2017

Why are they gonna add 'White Character' when the story sets in Middle East ?? Why ? Just Why ? #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/5craUu2Vcy

— Kristel Marie Dee (@KrissMaaayy) September 6, 2017

The upcoming live-action film has already been criticised for its casting.

Disney was slammed for casting British actress Naomi Scott, who has Indian heritage, to play Jasmine, a Middle Eastern princess, according to the independent.

The film, which was set to be directed by Madonna’s former husband, Guy Ritchie, does not have a release date yet.

This story originally appeared in the NY Post and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Disney slammed over its decision to cast a white actor in live-action remake of Aladdin