Aladdin is part of the ’90s classic Disney Renaissance. By riding a magic carpet with the title character, viewers can indulge in a typical studio tale of the era. The film started a trend of famous faces delivering the lines of its characters created when Robin Williams breathed life into the Genie. It has entered a phase of making Disney stories interesting to older audiences as well as children, notably through Genie; the voices were enough to make children laugh, while adults could appreciate the skill and maturity of some of the jokes. Its initial positive reception has persisted more than 30 years later, although it is often seen as having problematic aspects. The story features Aladdin, a young thief who finds a magic lamp and befriends the Genie, freed from his captivity. Together, they work to stop the evil Jafar from taking over the kingdom, while hoping to keep Princess Jasmine safe.

Aladdin went on to win two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Score and maintained a high score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. In 2019, a live-action remake was developed by Guy Richie, starring Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith as Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie, respectively. The reception left it with poor ratings, but it received numerous award nominations. The committed performances may have fallen victim to not being able to compete with an already well-established film that fans couldn’t envision any other way, and Williams was a big part of the reason why. The enchantment of Disney animation makes it easy to forget that a lot goes on behind the scenes. The making of such a film will not always be accompanied by magical wishes, and the creatives will not necessarily have the wonderful relationships that their characters have. This was the experience of Williams and Disney. A mismatch between trust and an actor who wasn’t willing to back down on something he believed in left Disney without an actor for their sequel.

Robin Williams felt betrayed by the studios

Most Disney films contain merchandise that fans flock to buy. Some toys will come with the character’s voice, but what happens when the actor refuses to have their voice used? Assuming a deal would be reached, but, as Williams discovered, a deal doesn’t always seal the deal. In 1993, the Los Angeles Times reported on a bitter feud between the actor and the studios, referring to a few interviews where Williams set his limits. It was pretty clear. Disney executives had agreed to Williams’ requests, before opting to use her voice in merchandising anyway. Sources at Disney denied the Oscar winner’s claims, later sending him a Pablo Picasso painting to make amends.

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However, this attempt did not work. Williams didn’t think he would work for Disney again. The media began to spin a narrative portraying him as a resentful celebrity who received a $75,000 payday while the film grossed $200 million domestically. While this may leave some Williams fans skeptical of her reasoning for ditching Disney, another Los Angeles Times article gave an update on the situation involving then-studio head Joe Roth. Roth slammed Williams’ portrayal in a bad light, admitting the star had been “exploited.” “Robin complained that we were profiting from his performance as Genie in the film, exploiting it to promote other activities within the company. We had a specific agreement with Robin that we would not this. (Nevertheless) we have done so. Roth also suggested that Disney could have intervened much earlier when Williams was portrayed as money-driven. Roth had known Williams for some time and was able to say that “…none of these issues are ever about money. They are simply a question of principle.” Roth’s apology furthered Disney’s relationship with Williams, who returned to play the Genie in Aladdin and the King of Thieves in 1996. Unfortunately, it was not as well received as the original film.

Homer Simpson’s voice actor was chosen to replace Williams

The dispute between Williams and Disney lasted long enough for the former to refuse to reprise his role in a direct-to-video sequel titled Aladdin: The Return of Jafar. The comedy-centric character needed a new voice, that of Dan Castellaneta. He appeared in episodes of The office And Parks and Recreation but he is best known for his voiceover work as Homer Simpson in The Simpsons, for which he won Emmy Awards. Castellaneta had a tough role to follow as Genie, as well as playing Omar and a thief. Williams had set the bar high, so much so that the character quickly became a favorite for many, surpassing the main character himself. Castellaneta did an excellent job. Genie was always funny and had the warmth of a caring parent. However, it was obvious that the voice was different.

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When the work started Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Castellaneta was always part of the process. That was until Williams made peace with Disney and was ready to return to play the role. In a third Los Angeles Times article, it was note that a third of the film was discarded before the material was changed with Williams returning on board. They delved deeper into the story and chose to rewrite part of it. Animation has not reached the heights of success of Aladdin, even with Williams’ contribution. However, no one complained to hear him return in the form of a blue and happy Genie.

Williams was renowned for creating a lot of material for the role

Perhaps it was a natural talent or perhaps his time at the Juilliard School encouraged his talent for comedy. Either way, anyone who’s a fan (or even if they’re not) knows that Williams could improvise like no other. His stand-up shows were fast-paced, and he was the catalyst that revolutionized the way sitcoms were filmed. His influence on cinema and television has not stopped Mork and Mindy. In animation, namely Aladdin, Williams translated his understanding of comedy to suit the Disney classic without restricting his abilities. About 27 hours of material came from working in a recording booth, with the creators giving Williams the space to give his all to the characters (plural because he also played a peddler). Even with the minor character, he showed just as much creativity as he did with Genie.

This was not the first time Williams’ improvisational ability was used. Playing real-life disc jockey Adrian Cronauer, his rapid-fire humor was fluid. As always, he danced vocally through a collection of impressions and voices, all to bring an important story to the masses. Mrs. Doubtfire was released on screens six years later. The dual-identity role allowed Williams to unleash the funny bits (“It Was a Fruit Shot” will always be a hit with any Doubtfire fan) as well as break hearts as the stripped-down, loving father, Daniel. Then, of course, came Goodwill Hunt. Rookie artists Ben Affleck and Matt Damon developed the script with the idea that they would be more than willing to make the process collaborative. Who better to collaborate with than Williams? In a interview with Vanity Fair, they revealed that one of the most famous lines in the film was Williams’. Towards the end of the film, when Will left a note for Sean to tell him that he had gone “to see a girl”, the actor said “son of a b****, he stole my lines”. An absolute genius who closed out his role in the film.

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It’s no wonder Disney ultimately felt the need to apologize to Williams after going against his agreed-upon wishes. His talent was simply too good to let go. He wasn’t just a funny man, although that’s what he’s best known for. He had the foundation to give heart to any character he played. The magical being that appeared from a lamp was transformed into a series of living characters never losing touch with the emotion of the film and this was largely thanks to Williams.

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A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier compete for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Director

Ron Clements, John Musker

Cast

Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale, Frank Welker, Brad Kane, Lea Salonga, Bruce Adler, Charlie Adler, Jack Angel, Corey Burton, Philip L. Clarke, Jim Cummings, Jennifer Darling, Debi Derryberry, Bruce Gooch, Jerry Houser, Vera Lockwood, Sherry Lynn, Mickie McGowan, Patrick Pinney, Phil Proctor

Runtime

95 minutes

Develop