Will Smith’s role as the Genie in Aladdin 2 may be lost to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson following Smith’s slapping of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Smith’s career has taken a bit of a hit after the incident, with numerous projects being put on hold. Now a report from Giant Freakin Robot says that Dwayne Johnson is in talks for a role in the sequel to Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin. It is unknown if this role is, in fact, that of the Genie. However, the interesting timing of this report is leading to speculation that Smith is being let go from the project.
Aladdin 2 May Be Will Smith’s Latest Loss
Smith received major backlash for slapping Rock at the Oscars following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss condition. Since then, he has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and has been banned from attending any of their events for ten years. While Smith has apologized for the incident, much of the public still hasn’t forgiven him. At Universal Studios in Orlando, Smith is still the narrator on the popular attraction Men in Black: Alien Attack. According to Inside the Magic, the experience on the ride hasn’t been the same for visitors since the Oscars. Smith has also been criticized by Rock’s mother, who shared that she wasn’t impressed with a written apology to her son, feeling Smith should have actually reached out.
Smith’s actions have harmed his reputation and his career. If he is cut from Aladdin 2 to be replaced by Dwayne Johnson, it will be the latest blow to a career that is already on the rocks.
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