Will Smith and Mena Massoud in AladdinWill Smith has full confidence in his Aladdin co-star Mena Massoud.
The pair starred together in the billion-dollar Disney remake, Smith playing the movie's genie - originally inhabited by the iconic Robin Williams - and Massoud as the rough diamond who finds the magic lamp.
But since then, Massoud has said that he's not managed to land a single audition in Hollywood.
Read more: Disney has made £5.7 million from its remakes in a decadeSpeaking to Variety, Smith said: “I haven't spoken to Mena, but he is a spectacular actor, and he has nothing to worry about.”
Prior to Aladdin, Massoud had appeared in a handful of indie movies and TV roles, landing the lead in Guy Ritchie's big budget live-action remake.
Massoud with Naomi Scott in AladdinSpeaking to The Daily Beast, he explained that despite the movie topping the box office and making just over $1 billion worldwide – in the face of early criticism – it appears not to have made any difference to his career.
“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,” he said.
“'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.
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” Massoud goes on – the article's writer quick to stress that Massoud does not appear 'whining or complaining or in any way ungrateful'.
“People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I’m sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”
Massoud is next up in the US drama series Reprisal.
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