Aladdin’s Marwan Kenzari Wants to Return as Jafar for Sequel

If the Aladdin sequel does get off the ground, the actor who played Jafar in the first live-action remake wants to return to the role. Reaction to the 2019 film was mixed, but Disney has recognized the monetary potential of expanding their animated offerings into live-action films and show no sign of slowing that down. To that end, an Aladdin sequel is already in development, although it isn’t going to be based on the animated sequel to the animated Aladdin, titled The Return of Jafar.

While The Return of Jafar won’t be the main subject matter of a sequel, it could have an influence on the direction of the movie. As the title character of that animated movie, there would be ample opportunity for Jafar to be more involved in the next installment of the franchise. The 2019 Aladdin left something to be desired from Marwan Kenzari, who took on the role. His Jafar wasn’t nearly as threatening or villainous as the character was when he was animated, but Kenzari is looking forward to rectifying his portrayal in any forthcoming films.

In comments made to ComicBook.com, Kenzari revealed his interest in returning to the role of Jafar for an Aladdin sequel. In the interview, Kenzari stated he would be “humbly grateful” to reprise the role. He also stated that the decision of whether or not he would return is essentially in the hands of the higher ups involved at Disney and those who are responsible for the sequel.

If Kenzari returns as Jafar, he’ll be starting the sequel in a much different place, as the original ends with Jafar trapped in the Genie’s lamp. In The Return of Jafar, this problem is solved by having Iago escape from Jafar, only for new character Abis Mal (voiced by Jason Alexander) to happen upon the lamp and fall under Jafar’s manipulative ways. If the producers of the Aladdin sequel don’t want to follow The Return of Jafar’s script, it’s unclear how else they’ll bring the character back to life.

The timeline for bringing Jafar back from his obsolete state will also be affected by the state of the real world. Momentum for an Aladdin 2 has been stalled by the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a rash of unending delays for Disney and the rest of the entertainment industry. That may have the unintended benefit of clearing Kenzari’s schedule, as he only has one film currently in pre-production. By the time a second Aladdin is ready to be made, Marwan Kenzari will be raring to avenge his mixed reviews.

Source: ComicBook.com

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