Why the New Aladdin Has a Reason to Exist

While I agree that there should have been people of color behind the camera I still think on screen representation matters. The original 1992 movie features not some but ALL white actors. The villains also perform with an accent and have darker tones than the heroes. At no point in the long process of making that animated movie did they consider this casting being a problem. People seem to forget that it was a film made solely to make money and not some pure artistic endeavor. Hell they even tried to screw Robin Williams with a deceptive contract. I think nostalgia, especially in fandom (also see Star Wars), can be a blinding and toxic thing. I’m so disappointed in some of the reactions and comparisons to the original. I personally love the new cast. Most of these actors have played terrorists or criminals in shows including 24, Homeland and Jack Ryan. You can find interviews where they discuss how it’s been hard to find good non-stereotypical roles. I was so happy to see them get to play these parts and in a big fun studio movie. Kids all over can now watch a movie where they will see brown faces they will admire and which can help normalize someone you usually see playing a criminal. There is only one white actor in the film and he’s just a brief comedic aside. We don't have many other examples of American movies like this. There was also casting criticism despite Agrabah being a fictional place inspired by many different cultures, much like Marvel’s Wakanda. Like Black Panther I think the casting should reflect that and not decree only a specific group of brown people should be represented. If the origins of the story draw (or you could say exploit) from various cultures shouldn’t actors from various cultures be allowed to participate? It’s especially baffling when people criticize this casting while praising the original. Disney has a long history of lacking diversity in their storytelling and of flat out racism. The problems of these older films shouldn’t be ignored because of nostalgia. I love The Simpsons for example but The Problem with Apu documentary shed new light on an issue I didn’t give a second thought when I was younger. This new non-white Aladdin absolutely should exist and I hope a new generation of kids embrace it. The stage version already course corrected the diversity problems of the original Lion King and regardless of how you feel about the CG animation, that upcoming remake too has a reason to exist.