Fans are not happy about 'Aladdin' spin-off starring a 'minor white character'

"One white dude with one scene in a majority brown cast gets his own movie," one Twitter user ranted

Disney is facing criticism for its decision to produce a spin-off film focused on a minor white character from its live-action remake of Aladdin.

The project was revealed to the Hollywood Reporter on Friday and will see the actor Billy Magnussen reprise his role as the affable, goofy Prince Anders. The film is to premiere on Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.

However, fans are creating a ruckus on Twitter after the news of the spin-off was revealed.  “So... uh... just after the news the actor who played Aladdin can’t get work, Disney announces a spin-off about the token white guy in one scene!” one fan wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/AndalusianDoge/status/1203090772914036736

Prince Anders, an original character created for the live-action version, only appeared in a few scenes. Some wonder why, in a film replete with characters of colour, the studio is focusing on a white one.

"So the dude who plays Aladdin can't get an audition but the one white dude with one scene in a majority brown cast gets his own movie," another added. "Certainly a great look Disney."

https://twitter.com/HannaFlint/status/1203096941363703809?

pic.twitter.com/igqmjcKYty

— Angie J. Han (@ajhan) December 6, 2019

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Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin in this year’s live-action remake, made news this week after he opened up about struggling to land auditions, even after starring in a film that grossed over $1bn.

“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it,” Massoud told the Daily Beast. “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin. ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out.”

'Aladdin' star Mena Massoud says starring in a Disney film hasn't helped his career at all

"Just so we’re clear. Mena Massoud, who starred in the blockbuster ALADDIN remake, can’t get an audition anywhere. But Billy Magnussen, who plays the white comic relief character they added to the film for no good reason, gets his own spinoff," another Twitter user ranted about Disney's decision.

https://twitter.com/WilliamBibbiani/status/1203118662816714757

A white man can get a spinoff of a film that’s made up almost entirely of POC (save for him) while the actor who played Aladdin can’t even get an audition https://t.co/yq8QZV1mRf

— Aaron 🦇 (@aaronfraggle) December 6, 2019

Very cool that Disney’s creating a show for the sole white character in the movie while the lead of a major budget film produced by a billion dollar company can’t even get work because of stereotypinghttps://t.co/CsfufvsasY

— andrew (@evildeadfan01) December 6, 2019

The admission sparked conversations about the struggles actors of color face in Hollywood. When asked about Massoud’s admission during a press interview, Will Smith, who played Genie in Aladdin, responded, “The thing about this business, that is not unlike life: it’s hard by design. It’s like the universe, God, whatever you believe designed it to be hard, right? So, if you’re having a hard time, it’s because you’re supposed to.”

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