An Alternative to a Disney Live Action Universe

So it has been a couple of weeks since Disney’s Aladdin (2019) hit theaters with mostly overwhelming praise and great box office returns! With success the film has had, there have been many a news site suggesting Disney should make a live action Disney Universe, in the vain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Equipped with crossovers and all.

While most find the idea utterly ridiculous, and frankly I agree to an extent that a live-action universe with all our favorite Disney characters is a bit cluttered and too much. However, there is an alternative to this that Disney’s Aladdin (2019) seemed to be a gateway to another Arabian Night; allow me to explain.

SPOILERS AHEAD FROM HERE ON OUT

Now, most know the tale of Aladdin hails from many of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories, from stories of 40 thieves to epic sea adventures with Sinbad the sailor. Now, in the film, we hear of other lands that exist aside from Agrabah; for example, Princess Jasmine’s (Naomi Scott) mother hails from another fictional land called Shirabad. In the film, Princess Jasmine also has an array of maps listing various neighboring kingdoms. As well as the Genie (Will Smith) opens the film on a ship with his wife, Dalia (Nasim Pedrad) telling their children; Omar (Jordan A. Nash) and Lian (Taliyah Blair) the story of Aladdin which leads into the film. It also implies that the Genie as a character has seen or heard a lot in his 1000 years in the lamp.

With all this information, from Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) having a past being a thief; to Aladdin (Mena Massoud) out right not expressly saying his father has passed. My theory and suggestion to all of this instead of making a live-action Disney universe, simply adopt the 1001 Arabian Nights stories that happen to exist in this same universe. Why not have the sailor Sinbad originally hail from Agrabah and either the Genie; before he is imprisoned in the lamp is part of Sinbad’s crew or Jafar being part of Sinbad’s crew to being an explanation to how he knows of fantastical items of the such. Or a solo prequel movie that centers around Aladdin’s father Cassim (John Rhys Davies); as seen in Aladdin and the King of Thieves in how he became the King of Thieves as seen in the animated film.

Now, this is all just merely theorizing, but it would undoubtedly be a more coherent alternative to a live-action greater universe within the world of Aladdin (2019). Most likely however if Disney were to ever do sequels of any kind to Aladdin (2019) they would most likely be moderately faithful adaptations of the original sequels; Aladdin The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves. 

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