Disney announces an Aladdin spin-off based on Prince Anders, gets hit with instant internet backlash

Disney seems to have made the strategy behind their planned content for Disney+ clear: use it to build side stories to their big movie properties. It’s a strategy that seems to work given the popularity of many of their franchises and the existing hype around Star Wars’ The Mandalorian and the upcoming Marvel series.

It’s getting to Disney’s head because they’ve just announced a spin-off film of one of the characters to another big property and successful movie, except it makes absolutely no sense. That new live-action spin-off (as revealed by The Hollywood Reporter) is to centre on the clumsy and silly character of Prince Anders played by Billy Magnussen in the recent Aladdin movie. This despite the fact that the character is a very minor part of the film and one that very few people actually care about.

Disney seems to think differently, and Aladdin producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Elrich are working on the new feature with Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme already writing the script. It’s believed that Magnussen himself pitched the idea. We have no details on that pitch so we do not understand how he convinced Disney to choose Prince Anders as the topic for a spin-ff from Aladdin when there are so many more colourful characters to choose from. I guess we will have to wait and see what they come up with to see if what they are smoking is the truly good stuff.

Or perhaps not, if the internet backlash that has quickly arisen following this announcement is anything to go by. Several comments on social media have dismissed the Prince Anders spinoff in brutal fashion, with naysayers focused not just on the stupidity of the idea but the fact that this news came out just days after Aladdin titular star Mena Massoud revealed that he has yet to land a single audition since the movie debuted earlier this year. You would think the good-looking, singing/dancing lead of a film that earned over $1 billion and which was good would be enough to get your foot in the door, right?

Now while Disney has no control over other studios snubbing Massoud, the optics of them choosing to focus on a minor white character – and one which replaced an existing non-white character – on the heels of the non-white lead saying he can’t get another gig is bad.

Let me see if I have this right. @MenaMassoud comes out and says he’s had trouble getting auditions despite having LEAD the #Aladdin remake that grossed a billion dollars.

THEN, Disney orders a spinoff for the one white guy in the film?

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. https://t.co/Q7Fii68JX0

— Nick Poulimenakos (@NickMenakos) December 6, 2019

Billy Magnussen is a fantastically underrated actor who I feel doesn't get enough recognition.

That being said, very odd to announce this #Aladdin spinoff just days after Mena Messoud said he hasn't gotten a single audition since Aladdin debuted.

Relatively bad optics here. https://t.co/k5TyairXvC

— Anything but Jim (@JamesDeziel) December 6, 2019

So we had to wait a decade for the #BlackWidow movie, but the guy who had five seconds of screen time in this year's #Aladdin gets a spinoff? OK. Makes total sense.

— Brianna Lieberman (@BriaFaithWrites) December 7, 2019

The lamest role gets a spinoff? Really? @disneyplus #Aladdin #MenaMassoud

— Martin Matamoros (@Asterothian) December 7, 2019

Nope.

In order of needing a spinoff before the random …

1. Jafar origin story
2. Genie out the bottle a prequel
3. Abu's adventures in Agrobah
4. Princess Jasmine
5. Aladdin 2
6. The lady who runs the brothel ?
7. Any random Agrobah-an

Tired #Aladdin https://t.co/1mgrU0rNht

— The British Blacklist (@BritBlacklist) December 7, 2019

Where we watching the same #Aladdin because this guy didn’t played a scene-stealing part his character is forgettable until you guys announce this ridiculous article #DisneyPlus it’s disappointing and of course you guys will still make this dumb spinoff because of white privilege

— alden (@ADFX85) December 7, 2019

I’m…I’m actually fucking tired y’all. I’m tired of having to constantly talk about this fucking movie. First, they insisted on injecting a white prince into a film that didn’t call for one. NOW, they’re giving him a spin-offhttps://t.co/Gvi5t5gdqu

— Vaneet “Vote Labour, BITCH” Mehta (@nintendomad888) December 7, 2019

Because it should obviously be a white guy who gets a multi-millionaire spinoff from Aladdin.https://t.co/LOrHPF4NV7

— saira rao (@sairasameerarao) December 7, 2019

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! https://t.co/2cs4U0LdLy

— Reuben Baron (@AndalusianDoge) December 6, 2019

So is Disney being deliberately racist here or just insensitive with their communication? Well, I would go rather with the latter, along with just perhaps not understanding the reason for the film’s real success and charm. While I have no disrespect for Magnussen’s performance as Prince Anders in Aladdin, it was far from the reason the film was such a success. If Disney wanted a spinoff, they should’ve chosen from the myriad of other characters to probably warrant a further look. It will be interesting to see how Disney responds following all this backlash.

Last Updated: December 9, 2019