Disney Furiously Rubbing Lamp To Produce ALADDIN 2

Disney's live-action remake train is showing no signs of slowing, and the latest evidence (on top of Mulan and Cruella) is the emergence of the second sequel in the cycle: Aladdin is being developed for a follow-up.

The project is in early development, according to Variety, under writers John Gatins and Andrea Berloff, whose pitch won out over multiple other writers'. Gatins' writing credits include Power Rangers, Flight, and Real Steel, while Berloff wrote and directed The Kitchen and co-wrote Blood Father and Straight Outta Compton. A curious mixture of credits to throw into an Aladdin-shaped pot, but if Guy Ritchie's work on the first one demonstrated anything, it's that the Disney machine can sterilise any artistic voice, no matter how un-Disney they might seem. As for Ritchie himself, he's not a guaranteed lock for the sequel, but Disney hopes to bring back lead actors Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott.

Fans of Disney through the dark days of straight-to-video animated sequels will note that the animated Aladdin already received two sequels, including the perplexingly beloved Return of Jafar. Disney acknowledges your loyalty but will not be following in that direction with the live-action sequel. So far, the only sequel to a live-action Disney remake has been Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (unless you count 102 Dalmatians), which along with its predecessor took more liberties in adapting Sleeping Beauty than the likes of Aladdin did with its source material. Perhaps they'll take some chances with this one. But they probably won't.

If and when Aladdins gets made, it will be for a theatrical release.