Broadway diva Lea Salonga took to social media to express what she thinks about the live-action reboot of the Disney film “Aladdin”.
Salonga, who provided the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in the original version, said she is happy that a movie featuring people of color is a box-office success.
“For all that’s been said about the new live action Aladdin, even without seeing the movie, my takeaway is this: a movie set in a fictional city in the Middle East starring all shades of brown people and making beaucoup bucks at the box office can only be a good thing,” she said.
“If this aids in changing the way we, as outsiders view this part of the world and people from there, it will all have been worth it,” she added.
She also shared a clip of Naomi Scott, the actress who took on the role of Jasmine in the modern adaptation, recording the song “Speechless”.
“First of all… YES, Naomi Scott! Second of all… YES, Menken and Pasek & Paul! Couldn’t help but feel myself getting all up in my feelings listening to this brand new song for the live action Aladdin. I may need to test my vocal cords with,” she wrote on Twitter.
First of all… YES, Naomi Scott!
Second of all… YES, Menken and Pasek & Paul!Couldn’t help but feel myself getting all up in my feelings listening to this brand new song for the live action Aladdin. I may need to test my vocal cords with… https://t.co/KDzuA636uC
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 2, 2019
Many followers also said they would like her to record “Speechless” so they can hear how the original Jasmine would sing it.
“Aladdin” is the live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1992 animated film of the same name. It tells the story of an Arabian street urchin named Aladdin who found a magic lamp containing a genie. He then wished to become a prince to impress the Sultan and win the heart of Princess Jasmine, while dealing with the manipulative interventions of the power-hungry Grand Vizier Jafar.
It arrived in UAE cinemas on May 23.
