Marwan Kenzari, who recently appeared in Tom Cruise's 'The Mummy', is in negotiations to portray the villainous character in Disney's upcoming live-action remake.
- August 5, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Disney's "Aladdin" live-action remake is close to finding its main baddie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The Mummy" actor Marwan Kenzari is in negotiations to star as villainous Jafar in the upcoming movie.
The site also reports that former "Saturday Night Live" comedienne and "Scream Queens" actress Nasim Pedrad has been tapped to play a new character created for the live-action remake. She will play "Mara, the handmaiden and friend to Jasmine. The part is described as a comedic supporting role."
Kenzari and Pedrad join the cast that already has Mena Massoud playing Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, and Will Smith taking on the role of Genie. Filming is expected to kick off this month, with Guy Ritchie on board to direct from a script by John August ("Big Fish"). A release date has yet to be set.
Meanwhile, Kenzari is poised to break through as part of the star-studded cast of Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express". He also appeared in "Ben-Hur" and starred alongside Noomi Rapace and Glenn Close in Netflix's action thriller "What Happened to Monday".
