Dominic Stone
Will Smith's portrayal of the Genie in Disney's live-action remake of Aladdin sparked varied responses from fans, with some criticising his appearance as the Genie, while others questioned the CGI used to create his blue, muscular physique. Smith's portrayal aimed to infuse the character with a timeless version of himself, drawing from his iconic roles in Fresh Prince and Hitch. Despite the initial backlash, Smith's Genie ultimately delighted audiences, showcasing his dedication to physical transformation and unique interpretation of the beloved character.
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What You'll Learn
Will Smith's Genie is blue
Will Smith's Genie in Disney's live-action remake of Aladdin caused quite a stir on the internet. The initial images from the film set showed Smith in a flesh-toned appearance, which confused and outraged fans who expected the Genie to be blue, like in the 1992 animated film. Smith assured fans that he would indeed be blue in the film, and the first trailer revealed a big blue, muscular Genie, created using CGI.
The internet's reaction to Smith's blue Genie was mixed. Some likened his appearance to the creepy kids from the 1990s Fruit Gushers commercials, with his big ears and giant head. Others commented on the CGI, saying it was "awkward and not completely polished" and made the muscular Smith look "fat". Some found the Genie's appearance frightening, while others questioned what else a live-action Genie played by Will Smith was expected to look like.
Smith's Genie is not blue throughout the film. Once he is out of the Cave of Wonders, he transforms into a human form, which is just regular Will Smith with a ponytail, and he remains in this form for most of the movie. This allowed Smith to differentiate his portrayal from the classically over-the-top performance of Robin Williams in the 1992 version. Smith's Genie is described as "chill" and focused on maximizing his time out of the lamp.
Smith underwent hard training to achieve a perfect physique for the role of Genie, working with personal trainer Aaron Ferguson, with whom he had previously collaborated on the film Suicide Squad. Smith is known for his ability to transform his body for roles, having lost 10 kilos for the Muhammad Ali biopic and 7% of his body fat for I, Robot.
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Will Smith's Genie is muscular
Will Smith's Genie in the 2019 live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin caused quite a stir on the internet. The first look at Smith's Genie was revealed in a trailer during the Grammys in February 2019, and Twitter users had a lot to say about his appearance. Many were confused and horrified by Smith's blue-hued Genie, with some comparing his appearance to the creepy 90s Fruit Gushers commercials.
However, amidst all the criticism, there was also a discussion about Smith's muscular physique. One person commented that the CGI used to create Smith's Genie made the "very muscular" actor appear "fat", with big ears and a giant head. Another person noted that the CGI in the trailer may not be representative of the final version of the film, as trailers usually feature early versions of CGI.
Indeed, Smith himself underwent hard training to achieve a perfect physique for the role. He worked with personal trainer Aaron Ferguson, who helped him define his abdomen through traditional muscle-building routines. This was not the first time the duo had collaborated; they had previously worked together on the 2016 film Suicide Squad.
Smith's Genie in Aladdin is described as being inspired by "a muscular 1970s dad" according to director Guy Ritchie. In the film, Smith's Genie is shown in both human form, where he appears as his regular self, and in his big blue CGI form.
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Will Smith's Genie is CGI
Will Smith's Genie in the 2019 live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin was a CGI creation. The character was inspired by "a muscular 1970s dad," according to director Guy Ritchie.
When the first images and trailer for the film were released, Smith's Genie was not blue, which caused an uproar among fans as the Genie in the original 1992 animated film was blue. Smith assured fans that he would, in fact, be blue in the film. The official trailer, released during the Grammys, revealed a big, blue, muscular Genie, which was created using CGI.
Many people commented on Smith's appearance as the Genie, with some saying that the CGI made him look "fat" with "big ears and a giant head." Others likened his blue-bod to the creepy Gushers commercials from the '90s. Some viewers felt an overwhelming sense of fear towards Smith's Genie, with his big ears and infinite forehead.
Smith's Genie also had a human form, which he stayed in for much of the movie. In this form, he was just regular Will Smith with an ornate ponytail. This allowed Smith to differentiate his take on the character from Robin Williams's classic interpretation.
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Will Smith's Genie is scary
Will Smith's Genie in the live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin caused quite a stir on the internet. While some were unsure about all the criticism, many commented on Smith's appearance as the Genie, describing it as "scary".
When Entertainment Weekly first released images from the film set, fans were outraged that Smith did not appear blue. Smith assured fans that he would be blue in the film, and during the Grammy Awards, the world got its first glimpse of Smith's blue Genie. However, the reaction to this was also mixed, with some people taking to Twitter to express their fear and confusion. One person compared Smith's Genie to the creepy Gushers commercials from the '90s, while another said they felt "a deep primal fear" towards Smith's character.
The CGI used to alter Smith's appearance and make him appear blue was also criticised, with some saying it made the very muscular Smith look "fat" and gave him big ears and a giant head. Others noted that the CGI in the trailer may not be the same as in the final version of the film.
Despite the criticism, Smith's Genie was also described as "part Fresh Prince, part Hitch" by a Disney executive, and the actor himself assured fans that his character would be blue in the film, like the original Genie from the 1992 animated version. In the end, Smith's Genie was just one aspect of the film, which also featured new musical numbers and upgraded lyrics to some of the original songs.
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Will Smith's Genie is rapping
Will Smith's Genie in the 2019 live-action remake of Disney's Aladdin has been described as bizarre and weird, with the character's appearance being the subject of much criticism and ridicule. Smith's Genie has been called "spook [y]", with some saying that it gave them "a deep primal fear".
The CGI used to make Smith blue was also criticised, with some saying it made the "very muscular" Smith look "fat", with "big ears and a giant head". However, others were unsure about the criticism, asking, "What else would a live-action Will Smith as Genie look like?"
Despite the criticism of his appearance, Smith's rapping as Genie was well-received. Smith's take on the character was described as "a lot more chill" than Robin Williams' "classically over-the-top" approach. Smith's Genie was also said to be "focused on maximising his time out of the lamp", especially when he gets to go to a party at the sultan's place, where he falls in love with Princess Jasmine's handmaid, Dalia.
Before taking on the role, Smith was aware of the skepticism surrounding the remake and the difficulty of following in Williams' footsteps. However, after meeting with director Guy Ritchie, Smith began playing with the film's music and decided to rap his way through "Friend Like Me", sampling the drum beat from the Honeydrippers' "Impeach the President". Smith previewed his rap on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, giving fans a taste of what to expect.
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Frequently asked questions
Smith appears as a very blue Genie in the live-action remake of Aladdin.
People had a lot to say about Smith's appearance as the Genie. Some likened his blue-bod to that of those creepy Gushers commercials from the ’90s. Others commented on his CGI appearance, saying that it made the very muscular Smith look fat.
Yes, Smith underwent hard training to enjoy a perfect physique for his role as the Genie. He worked with a personal trainer, Aaron Ferguson, who helped him with traditional muscle-building routines.
