Disney Faces Criticism for Giving a Movie to Billy Magnussen
Days after live-action Aladdin’s lead star Mena Massoud came out to speak of his struggles as an actor of color and how he has not landed a single audition after Aladdin due to stereotyping, Disney has made an announcement that did not go well with many.
Announcing an Aladdin spinoff, featuring Billy Magnussen aka Prince Anders – the only white actor/character in the movie – Disney has irked the fans who deeply felt for Mena’s struggle.
“So… uh… just after the news the actor who played Aladdin can’t get work, Disney announces a spin-off about the token white guy in one scene!” said a Twitter user as he blasted Disney for making a whole movie for a character that only featured in a few scenes in the Aladdin flick.
“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it. I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin. I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out,” Mena who was the lead in $1 billion grosser had recently told a media outlet.
Prince Anders was an original character created for the live-action movie and after the recent announcement fans are further perplexed as to why such a minor character is being highlighted to such an extent – earlier eyebrows were raised on inclusion of a white man in a story focusing predominantly on people of color.
The spinoff movie, quite under fire right now, is set to release on Disney+ – the filming company’s recently launched streaming site.
