
People Got a Look At Will Smith's Genie in 'Aladdin' and They Aren't Impressed
By Mark PygasNov. 18 2019, Updated 2:20 p.m. ET
The first full trailer for the upcoming live-action Aladdin movie, which opens in theatres on May 24, dropped during the Grammy Awards last night, and it's looking pretty awesome. Guy Ritchie's live-action Aladdin features Will Smith as the Genie, while newcomer Mena Massoud will take on the lead as Aladdin and Naomi Scott was also announced as Jasmine.
The trailer itself doesn't give away much, but does show Aladdin in the cave of wonders and rubbing the lamp. At the end of the trailer, Will Smith's appearance as the genie is revealed, and people seem to either love it or hate it...

Social media is obviously alight with people's opinions on Will Smith's look, and not many appear to be favorable. Some people are comparing him to other movie characters...
This looks like a blue version of Shrek. #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/7xCEg46WvS
— Caillou Pettis (@CaillouPettis) February 11, 2019
Oh my gooooodddddddddd #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/9gRu7NXDO6
— BBB Miska 🍕 (@bradmiska) February 11, 2019
A bald but not-blue Smith was first revealed in costume on the cover of Entertainment Weekly back in December. The actor later said the photos showed Genie in his “human/disguise” form and that the character “will be CGI most of the movie.”
“I got to do everything I know how to do in this movie,” Will previously told Entertainment Weekly. “I got to act and it was comedy and beautiful dramatic scenes, I got to sing, I got to rap, I got to dance, I got to do action sequences — it was everything that I’ve trained and learned how to do over the last 30 years of entertainment and I got to it use all in playing the Genie.”
But not everyone seems to be enjoying Genie as much as Will, with others thinking it's the stuff of nightmares.
Will Smith genie is what appears in my room when I have sleep paralysis pic.twitter.com/NzMDOgvkkz
— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) February 11, 2019
i'll never sleep again and it's all will smith's fault #aladdin pic.twitter.com/wUL79ZchIG
— Q U I N N (@QuinnKeaney) February 11, 2019
the bar I’m in had the most VISCERAL reaction of horror to Will Smith in the Aladdin trailer I’m screaming
— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) February 11, 2019
This one seems accurate, to be fair.
First look at Will Smith as the Genie in the up coming live action Aladdin pic.twitter.com/yFLxrVJXv2
— Xanny DeVito (@trevorstweetss) February 11, 2019
Some Twitter users were truly shocked by the moment.
When Will Smith’s face popped up on that poorly animated blue genie. #Aaladin #Grammys pic.twitter.com/mHMDcyQQau
— lack toast and tolerance (@shanejbernard) February 11, 2019
Was down for that #Aladdin trailer the whole way thru til I saw blue Will Smith. pic.twitter.com/bSBf02ul2c
— Jv Joe (@JvJoeontheRadio) February 11, 2019
Others, however, seemed to be down with the look.
Okay, sorry but is the Genie kinda hot? #Aladdin #Grammy2019 pic.twitter.com/0jKohmZn70
— justin sillner (@justinsillner) February 11, 2019
I mean I personally think the new #Aladdin trailer was amazing. That’s just ME personally though. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/XkBHr4WgCa
— Jasmine Sadry 🎧 (@JasmineSadry) February 11, 2019
Wait shut the front door... A real life #Aladdin is happening yasss!!!! And freaking Will Smith is the Genie!!!! Yasssss!!!!!
— Morgan Myles (@MorganMylesLIVE) February 11, 2019
Sorry we can get back to the #GRAMMYs now. My inner child just came out in a big way lol! pic.twitter.com/qT9AVgmKRv
What do you make of the look?