Madonna's ex-husband Guy Ritchie will direct live-action version of the 1992 Disney classic Aladdin that starred the late Robin Williams
Guy Ritchie has been tabbed to direct the live-action adaptation of 1992's Aladdin.
The film will retain many of the songs and melodies from its Academy Award-winning predecessor, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Like in many of his other films, Ritchie, 48 - who was married to Madonna for eight years - will use non-linear storytelling in his re-creation of the Disney classic, giving viewers some points of the plot out of sequence for maximum effect.
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Moving forward: Guy Ritchie, 48, is slated to direct Disney's live-action adaptation of Aladdin
Big shoes to fill: The 1992 original was a financial and critical success, receiving two Oscars and making more than $504 million internationally
Strong resume: Ritchie's credentials include 2009's Sherlock Holmes and 2000's Snatch
Also involved with the remake are screenwriter John August (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), who penned the script; Dan Lin, who worked with Richie on 2009's Sherlock Holmes and its 2011 sequel; and executive producer Jonathan Eirich.
Richie, who gained notoriety for his marriage to Madonna from 2000 until 2008, has been at the helm of movies such as 2015's The Man from U.N.C.L.E., 2000's Snatch and 1998's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which marked his first full-length feature. He's also behind the lens for next year's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, featuring Jude Law and Charlie Hunnam.
The original Aladdin, set in the Middle East, told the story of a genie in a lamp who granted a young man from the streets three wishes, helping him woo a princess he loved; audiences definitely loved the film, making it the biggest moneymaker of 1992. It raked in more than $217 million domestically, and $504 million internationally, on a $28 million budget, triggering the entertainment giant's refocus on animation.
Man about town: The dapper director poses with his gorgeous wife Jacqui Ritchie, 34
It was also a huge hit with critics, garnering five Oscar nominations in 1993, with two wins, for Best Original Song (A Whole New World) and Best Original Score.
The cast included the voices of the late Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Scott Weinger, Jonathan Freeman, Linda Larkin.
The film's rousing success actually caused a rift between Williams and Disney, as the actor initially took the voice role for union scale rate - the lowest legal sum - with the understanding his voice wouldn't be used to sell merchandise related to the film; and that his character, the Genie, would not compose more than a quarter of any ad materials.
Lucky star: Guy was famously married to Madonna from 2000 until 2008, and has a son named Rocco, 16, with the pop icon
When the studio failed to honor both demands, Williams publicly ripped the studio for violating their pact with him.
'You realize now when you work for Disney why the mouse has only four fingers - because he can't pick up a check," the late star told the TODAY show in November of 1993. 'We had a deal: The one thing I said was I will do the voice. I'm doing it basically because I want to be part of this animation tradition. I want something for my children. One deal is, I just don't want to sell anything, as in Burger King, as in toys, as in stuff.'
He continued, 'All of a sudden, they release an advertisement: one part was the movie, the second part was where they used the movie to sell stuff. Not only did they use my voice, they took a character I did and overdubbed it to sell stuff.
Gone but not forgotten: Williams enhanced his voice-overs as the Genie with many of his trademark ad-libs
'That was the one thing I said, "I don't do that" - that was the one thing where they crossed the line.'
Williams even rejected an an original work by Pablo Picasso from Disney CEO Michael Eisner to make amends. Williams, who tragically took his own life in August of 2014, finally forgave the studio in the wake of the 1994 termination of ex-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was replaced with executive Joe Roth.
Roth assuaged Williams with public apologies, luring the gifted star back in for the 1996 video sequel Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
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