Aladdin star Mena Massoud has revealed he hasn’t had “a single audition” since the release of the blockbuster Disney reboot.
Despite taking the starring role in one of the biggest hits of 2019, Massoud said that he hasn’t even been allowed “in the room” for major follow-up parts.
“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” he told The Daily Beast. “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin. ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out.”
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” he continued. “People have these ideas in their head. I’m sitting here being like, 'OK, Aladdin just hit $1bn. Can I at least get an audition?' I’m not expecting you to be like, 'Here’s Batman'. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”
The Canadian actor beat out more than 2,000 actors to portray the live-action Aladdin in the Guy Ritchie-directed film, which has grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide since its release in May. It is currently the 34th highest-grossing film of all time.
Massoud is currently starring on the Hulu action serious Reprisal. Naomi Scott, who played Princess Jasmine in the film, recently starred as one of the central trio in Elizabeth Banks’ Charlie’s Angels reboot.
