Live-action ‘Aladdin’ will be a musical

Disney fans were dismayed when it was announced that the live-action remake of “Mulan” will not be a musical. It should come as a relief to them, then, that the entertainment giant’s “Aladdin” will be.

“It’d be tough not to make [Aladdin] a musical,” said director Guy Ritchie.

This should probably not come a surprise. 1992’s “Aladdin,” after all, featured award-winning music, with “A Whole New World” winning Best Original Song at both the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Other songs, like “Friend Like Me,” “Arabian Nights,” and “Prince Ali” remain favorites to this day. The score was composed by Alan Menken, while the lyrics were written by Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman. Jasmine’s singing voice was provided by our very own Lea Salonga.

It is also worth noting that Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” retained its musical nature, and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Despite this encouraging news, Ritchie admitted the project is still early in development.

“I’m still looking for cast members, we still haven’t found exactly which direction we’re going in. I’m confident that at some stage it will reveal itself to me, but right now it’s just a bit too premature.”

It was previously announced that “Aladdin” will boast a Middle-Eastern cast—appropriate, given the story’s setting.

Guy Ritchie directed movies such as 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes,” 2015’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” and this year’s “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.”

“Big Fish” screenwriter John August penned the “Aladdin” remake script, while Dan Lin will produce. — BM, GMA News