Wish granted! Disney developing Aladdin sequel

Your wish is Disney’s command. Following the massive success of 2019's live-action Aladdin, Disney is already at work developing a sequel — and they even have the screenwriters picked out.

Citing unnamed sources, Variety is reporting — with Deadline confirming — that a sequel to Aladdin is in “early development” after hearing a pitch from writers John Gatins (Power Rangers) and Andrea Berloff (The Legend of Conan), who are now attached to write the script. No word yet as to what Gatins and Berloff's story entails.

SYFY WIRE has reached out to a representative from Disney for confirmation.

Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who produced the original live-action Aladdin, are set to produce through their production company Rideback. Ryan Halprin is executive producing. It’s not currently known if Guy Ritchie will return to resume directorial duties (although The Hollywood Reporter says Ritchie's on board for Part 2, which conflicts with Variety's and Deadline's reports). And although the producers hope to bring back original stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott, their plan as of now is to hold off on offering roles to actors until the script is ready.

When SYFY WIRE spoke with Lin in August about making a sequel, perhaps even a remake of the original direct-to-video animated film, Aladdin: The Return of Jafar, he said they were “in early stages” of “talking about another movie.” He added that whatever the sequel would be, it wouldn’t be “a straight remake of any movie that’s been made before.”

So, with a script in the works and a pitch decided upon, development has taken a giant leap forward. 

Since the original film made $1 billion globally roughly a month after opening in theaters in May of last year, it's not surprising that Disney would be hot to make a follow-up. (Word has it that studios love making money.) Disney+ is also developing a spinoff film based around the character of Prince Anders, featuring Billy Magnussen.