![Will Smith's Genie Will Smith's Genie](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/028/528/cover3.jpg)
Will Smith's Genie
Part of a series on Aladdin (2019). [View Related Entries]
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About
Will Smith's Genie refers to Will Smith's portrayal of the character Genie in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney animated film Aladdin. Following the release of promotional images for the film and consecutive reveal of the blue-skinned Genie in the second trailer, the appearance of the character was mocked online.
Origin
On December 19th, 2018, magazine Enterntainment Weekly posted a first look at the upcoming 2019 live-action adaptation of Disney animated film Aladdin[1]. The cover revealed Will Smith as Genie, Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine.
![We can show you the world... of Disney’s live-action #Aladdin! ISSUE 2019'S MOSTANTICIPATED MOVIES& TV SHOWW DEC. 28,2018/JAN. 4, 2019 #1542/1543 ente iment MAGICAL DOUBLE ISSUE NEW IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD! An exclusive preview of Disney's updated take on the classic genie tale. PHOTOSAND SCOOPON THECROWN KILLINGEVE THEFAST BY PIYA SINHA-ROY FURIOUS SPIN-OFF DEADWOOD JOHNWICK HELLBOY PLUSaWHAT NEX ORDAN PEELE ELISABETH MOSS GEORGE CLOONEY JESSICA ALBA ALAOOIN TEO Naomi Scott, Will Smith, and Mena Massoud](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/311/5b3.jpg)
On the same day, Will Smith made an Instagram post[2] clarifying that the character will be blue-skinned in the movie.
On February 10th, 2019, the second trailer for Aladdin debuted at 2019 Grammy Awards. In the trailer, the Genie, now blue-skinned, was briefly shown.
Spread
The initial reveal of Smith as the Genie prompted strong responses from Twitter users. User @hullojess tweeted that she wished she'd never seen it, gaining over 830 retweets and 3,600 likes (shown below, left). User @Kyle_Cardine tweeted a photoshopped image of a Simpsons scene, gaining over 1,600 retweets and 7,800 likes (shown below, right).
![Wish jessica @hullojess Follow genie! my first wish. i wish that i'd never seen this. 2019'S MOST ANT 4, 2019 9:54 AM 19 Dec 2018](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/441/979/780.jpg)
![Simpsons Kyle Cardine @Kyle_Cardine Follow Twitter this morning 9:44 AM - 19 Dec 2018](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/441/982/f6a.jpg)
Following the release of the second trailer, the appearance of the character has been heavily mocked on Twitter as CGI-heavy and unnatural, with numerous users comparing the character to Thanos [3], Shrek [4], Smurfs[5] and Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development [6].
![Where is the Soul Stone, Aladdin? Walt @UberKryptonian Where is the Soul Stone, Aladdin? 9:30 PM 10 Feb 2019](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/259/c6d.jpg)
![First look at Will Smith as the Genie Xanny DeVito @trevorstweetss 36 First look at Will Smith as the Genie in the up coming live action Aladdin 8:57 PM - 10 Feb 2019](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/260/150.jpg)
![The new Willy Wonka remake Chris Demarais @ChrisDemarais The new Willy Wonka remake looks weird but I respect the bold casting choices. #Aladdintrailer #WillSmith #willywonka 11:00 PM-10 Feb 2019](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/262/a32.jpg)
![This looks like a blue version of Shrek. Caillou Pettis @CaillouPettis This looks like a blue version of Shrek. #Aladdín 8:57 PM - 10 Feb 2019](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/258/740.jpg)
![Blueface Michael Knowles @michaeljknowles When can we expect Will Smith to apologize to the Smurf community for wearing blueface? 10:14 PM - 10 Feb 2019](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/261/595.jpg)
On Reddit, memes about the character in various formats appeared on several subreddits, including /r/dankmemes[7], /r/memes[8] and /r/prequelmemes[9], with several examples also referencing Will Smith's appearance in YouTube Rewind 2018.
Various Examples
![Disturbing it is I can't watch anymore PS Expre](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/263/8d2.jpg)
![It’s rewind time Disney: releases image of Will Smith as genie* Literally everyone: what the f--- did you ust bring upon this cursed land](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/264/449.jpg)
![I put Tobias Fünke quotes under Will Smith’s genie I'm afraid djust bluemyself](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/321/216.jpg)
![Will Smith looking like a Smurf on steroids I am hideous? You are horrifying to look at Yes](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/266/a66.png)
![AHAHA AH THAT'S NOT HOT Upgrade alf Ar IT'S REWIND TIM](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/265/cfc.png)
![Will Smith's reaction Will Smith's reaction after seeing everyone's response to the trailer @YogscastSjin Am I a joke to you?](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/459/318/cfa.jpg)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter – @EW's Post
[2] Instagram – willsmith's Post
[3] Twitter – @CaillouPettis' Tweet
[4] Twitter – UberKryptonian's Tweet
[5] Twitter – @michaeljknowles' Tweet
[6] Twitter – @trevorstweetss' Tweet
[7] Reddit – AHAHA AH THAT'S NOT HOT
[8] Reddit – It’s rewind time
[9] Reddit – Disturbing it is
Top Comments
MisirterE
Feb 11, 2019 at 09:33AM EST
Red Fenix
Feb 11, 2019 at 09:06AM EST