Progress is pretty slow-moving on the planned sequel to Disney’s live-action Aladdin remake, but the project isn’t toast just yet. Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin in the 2019 film, has provided an update on Aladdin 2. The actor confirms that the project is currently stalled, as the previous version of the script has been scrapped. As Massoud tells Variety, new writers have since been brought in to flesh out the script, but at the same time, Massoud isn’t entirely sure that the sequel is really going to happen at this point, but he’s hoping that it does.

Additionally, Massoud also shut down the notion that the sequel would be a direct adaptation of the original animated version’s sequel, The Return of Jafar. Should the live-action Aladdin 2 come to fruition, Massoud promises that it would feature a completely original story that does not take inspiration from any of the previous films. From the interview:

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“I don’t know that there is movement. There was a change with the writers, and they are working on a brand new draft. That’s all I know. If ‘Aladdin 2’ happens, that’s fantastic. I think it should happen. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback Productions, who do the Lego movies and Aladdin, want to make sure they get this right. So if we do see Aladdin 2, it’s not going to be based off the animated version at all. This is going to be a brand new original story.”

Aladdin 2 Is Still Being Written

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The Aladdin remake was written by John August and director Guy Ritchie. It was an adaptation of the animated version that adhered fairly closely to the same story as the original, featuring a street urchin falling for a princess while befriending a genie and battling an evil sorcerer. Alongside Massoud, the film starred Will Smith (Genie), Naomi Scott (Jasmine), Marwan Kenzari (Jafar), Navid Negahban (The Sultan), Nasim Pedrad (Dalia), and Billy Magnussen (Prince Anders).

Because Aladdin was a big hit at the box office, plans were put in motion for a sequel soon after. It was reported in 2020 that John Gatins and Andrea Berloff had been tapped to write the screenplay for the sequel, while Massoud would be returning as Aladdin alongside other main cast members. With Gatins and Berloff apparently no longer involved with the film, it’s unclear who the new writers are that have taken control of the script. However, Magnussen also recently spoke about the sequel’s status as well, saying that it’s “still moving” but is in the midst of rewrites.

There have previously been reports of a Prince Anders spinoff happening as well, but the current status of that project is also unclear.