Naomi Scott talks multidimensional Jasmine in Aladdin, Rajah joins the cast

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

As the Disney reboot train keeps on chuggin', Mouseketeers are gearing up for when Guy Ritchie's live-action remake of the animated classic film ALADDIN makes a stop in cinemas. During the past several weeks, we've watched as the cast of the upcoming Arabian adventure has rounded out with additions like Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Mena Massoud, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, Navid Negahban and Numan Acar each hitching a ride aboard the film's proverbial magic carpet.

Recently, while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, POWER RANGERS actress Naomi Scott, who plays Jasmine in the forthcoming reboot, gushed about her excitement to portray the film's female lead. “There are so many amazing new things about the character in this adaptation — I could literally go on for an hour,” Scott gleefully told THR. “Everyone involved in this project weren’t afraid to really just rip things down and start again, especially the Princess Jasmine character, because it’s so important to get that right.”

As the interview continued, Scott began speaking about her aspirations to bring about some change to the Jasmine character. “I love what Disney is doing at the moment with their princesses — going from animation to live-action and making those animated characters real human beings,” Scott said. “Being a female character is also about being a real person, and guess what? [She] can be strong and have fun, but also get it wrong and be emotional. She’s a multidimensional woman, and she doesn’t have to just be one thing. So in this movie, you see her go on such a roller coaster, as opposed to her one goal being to fall in love or get married,” the British-born actress stated.

In following up her talk about bringing something new to the Jasmine character, Scott also remarked about one of the film's new characters, Dalia, a handmaiden and friend of the princess in the film. “I never realized it, but in the animation, Jasmine is really the only female character — isn’t that crazy?” Scott explains. "The Dalia character is so important to this movie because she’s the only other female character. She may be the handmaiden but they’re best friends; they’re so close because they’ve grown up together. So we wanted people to watch the movie and see Jasmine’s relationship with another woman, and be like, ‘Ah, that’s what I’m like with my girlfriend,’ or ‘We would so do that if I was in that position.’ That’s something that’s missing from the animation.”

Scott then commented on what it's been like to share a bit of screen time with SNL's Nasim Pedrad, who plays Dalia in the movie.  “We’re just obsessed with each other, I adore her. She’s hilarious and amazing, and as soon as we started working together, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, why haven’t we known each other for so many years?!’”

In wrapping up her interview with THR, Scott hinted at the possibility that fans will be introduced to her version of Jasmine as a potential leader of Agrabah, saying that “You really get in this adaptation of the movie that her heart is for her people, and her main objective is what’s best for her kingdom,” Scott had shared. “And you really get a sense that she has those leadership qualities within her.”

Lastly, according to some who are close to the project, Jasmine's friend and pet tiger Rajah will indeed appear in the film. In the original animated movie, the protective beast acts as Jasmine's bodyguard. While the lovable creature did not have a significant role in the animation, Rajah did go on to play a larger role in ALADDIN: THE SERIES. With any luck, we'll get to see the ferociously loyal fuzzball do more than simply patrol the palace courtyard or guard Jasmine's sleeping quarters in the new film.

The live-action remake of ALADDIN as directed by Guy Ritchie will magic carper ride into theaters on May 24, 2019.