Has there ever been a extra anomalous pairing than Guy Ritchie of all administrators doing Disney‘s live-action “Aladdin” film? The 2019 movie is an outlier in Ritchie’s filmography, however sure, he certainly directed it. And Ritchie additionally directs the upcoming sequel, and what’s extra, he desires disgraced actor Will Smith again as his Genie.
EW experiences (by way of The Hollywood Reporter) that Ritchie would love for Smith to reprise his Genie position within the deliberate sequel. “I’ve never met a more lovely man, and working with him was one of the most wonderful, great experiences I’ve ever had,” Ritchie informed THR on the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. “I never saw anything other than the consummate, generous gentleman. I wouldn’t have any issue casting Will Smith in anything, because, as I say, he was just the f—ing perfect gentleman.”
Of course, “the f—ing perfect gentleman” that’s Will Smith additionally slapped Chris Rock on stage throughout the stay Oscars telecast earlier this 12 months, and that’s not a really gentlemanly factor to do. Months later, Smith nonetheless offers with the implications of his actions. He’s been banned from attending all Academy-sanctioned occasions for the subsequent decade. And whereas Apple is excessive on Antoine Fuqua‘s “Emancipation” this awards season, with Smith’s efficiency in it getting a lot of buzz, it’s not going the actor will win any awards for the movie. He could also be within the dialog, however Smith continues to be within the Hollywood canine home, and that’s not going to vary any time quickly.
Still, Smith has gone to nice lengths to apologize for his habits on the Oscars telecast, together with an look on “The Daily Show” with Trevor Noah on Monday night time. “That was a horrific night, as you can imagine,” Smith mentioned throughout his time on the present. “There are many nuances and complexities to it. But, at the end of the day, I lost it, and I guess what I would say: You just never know what somebody’s going through, you know?” Or, and listen to me out, Will, possibly it’s not that nuanced and complex, and also you overreacted to a joke on nationwide tv…
But Smith continued to clarify himself: “I was going through something that night. Not that that justifies my behavior at all. You’re asking, what did I learn? It’s that we’ve just gotta be nice to each other, man. It’s hard. I guess the thing that was most painful for me is, I took my hard and made it hard for other people. I understood the idea of when they say hurt people hurt people.” That’s all properly and good, Mr. Smith, nevertheless it’s not going any of those phrases will undo the injury completed to your public notion and your performing profession.
But possibly Smith has a gig within the close to future with Ritchie and “Aladdin 2.” As for Ritchie, he’s in probably the most prolific stage of his profession. He’s at the moment filming “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare” with Henry Cavill and Eiza González, and Netflix‘s TV series based on “The Gentlemen” is in production now, too. Ritchie also has an untitled film with Jake Gyllenhall on the way, currently in post-production (which may be titled “The Interpreter“). And, good news: Ritchie’s “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” lastly will get a theatrical launch on January 12, 2023 after a 12 months of delays.
So, that’s three Guy Ritchie motion pictures earlier than the director doubtlessly reunites with Smith for “Aladdin 2.” Oh, and don’t neglect Ritchie’s live-action “Hercules” for Disney, too. Meanwhile, Will Smith has zero tasks lined up, due to the implications of his actions. So it goes.