An Original ‘Aladdin’ Star Is Pretty Upset That He Wasn’t Asked Back For Disney’s Remake
DISNEY
It got lost in the “look everyone, Will Smith is a ripped blue genie” shuffle, but earlier this week, Alan Tudyk was announced as the voice of Iago, Jafar’s wise-acre parrot in the live-action Aladdin remake. The Firefly and Rogue One star (who’s been in every Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film since 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph) is a welcome addition to the cast… unless you’re Gilbert Gottfried. The foul-mouthed comedian lent his distinctive voice to the original Aladdin (and two direct-to-video sequels, The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves), and he’s none too pleased that he wasn’t asked back.
Since the Tudyk news was revealed, Gottfried (who once said about Aladdin, “I look at that one and say I know for a fact that one is a quality work”) has been retweeting angry fans about the casting. A sample tweet reads, “This movie can go f*ck itself! @RealGilbert is the ONLY voice for Iago!” Another added: “It makes NO sense once so ever. Disney even brought back James Earl Jones for The Lion King. But yet they couldn’t bring @RealGilbert back shame on you @DisneyStudios.” And my personal favorite: “F*ck you and that mouse.”
Gottfried’s followers are also trying to get a hashtag trending (#NotMyIago), because it wouldn’t be a Disney movie without a boycott threat.
(Via Digital Spy)