Aladdin
Walt Disney Studios’AladdinstarWill Smithperforms his version of " Friend Like Me . " In the live - natural process remake ofAladdin , Smith stars as Genie , a character that was originally portray byRobin Williams in the 1992 animated filmof the same name .
Directed by Guy Ritchie , Aladdinstars Mena Massoudin the title role . In the independent cast , Massoud and Smith are joined by Naomi Scott , a British actress who will impersonate Princess Jasmine inAladdin . In July 2017 , Smith , Massoud , and Scott were initially chuck for the lively - action remake , this coming afterRitchie was hired asAladdin’sdirectorin April 2016 . Early in his life history , the English filmmaker made gritty law-breaking comedies likeLock , Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch , and has of late made blockbusters likeSherlock Holmes , The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , andKing Arthur : Legend of the Sword .
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On NBC’sThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , Smith performed his rendition of the iconicAladdinsong “ Friend Like Me . ” The talk show show begin with Smith and Fallon discussing the aforementioned Williams ' bequest , and how Smith was hesitating about offer his own spin on the Genie role . TheAladdinstar then explains how he used The Honey Drippers ’ 1973 call “ Impeach the President ” for a “ Friend Like Me ” metre , and then begins to knap in role as Genie . Once Fallon take in what ’s transpire , he giddily claps along while Smith closes out the ill-scented poetry . In comparison to Williams ’ original rendering , Smith stays true to the first Seth of lyrics , albeit with an old school , pelvic arch - hop edge . Watch Smith do “ Friend Like Me ” below .
Last March , Smith ante up tribute to the aforementioned Williams , not long afterDisney unveiled the first images ofAladdin’snew Genie . On Instagram , Smith acknowledge that he has expectant shoes to take , and also state thanks to Disney character designer Luigi Lucarelli . raise for a simple $ 28 million , Disney ’s 1992Aladdinfilm made over $ 504 million at the box federal agency , and later succeed two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song . Meanwhile , Williams won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance .
For Smith , Aladdincould be the comeback stumble that he ’s been waiting for . The Genie role returns the histrion to his musical roots , as he was part of the group DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince before asterisk in the NBC seriesThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air . During the later ‘ 90s and early 2000s , Smith evolved into an A - list smash hit headliner , though he ’s lose box office clout over the past tenner . If Smith deliversa natural and full of life performance as Genie inAladdin - just as he did onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon -then audiences will mostly likely reply positively when the film releases later this month .
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Source : The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
