'Aladdin' Spinoff Series Starring Billy Magnussen Sparks Criticism From Fans

On Friday, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Disney is developing a spinoff centered on Billy Magnussen as his scene-stealing character from the 2019 live-action adaptation, Prince Anders. The magazine reports that the studio has hired Jordan Dunn and Michael Kvamme to write a script for Disney+, adding that the show will not be a sequel to Aladdin.

Prince Anders was a new character added to the live-action reboot. He hailed from the fictional kingdom of Skanland and was a proposed suitor for Princess Jasmine. While he only had a few minor scenes, THR reports that Magnussen had a hand in pitching the idea to Disney.

However, fans of the movie are criticizing the decision following Aladdin star Mena Massoud's recent comments about not being able to get an audition, despite his titular role in the film, which has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide.

"I'm kind of tired of staying quiet about it. I want people to know that it's not always dandelions and roses when you're doing something like Aladdin," the 28-year-old Egyptian actor said in a recent interview with The Daily Beast. "'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."

Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment in giving Prince Anders a spinoff when they could have done more with Massoud. 

"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. Certainly a great look Disney," one person tweeted. 

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