Aladdin is latest Disney classic to get 'dark' horror movie treatment
'Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw' will be a terrifying twist on the animated Disney classic.
'Aladdin' is getting the horror treatment with a "dark, supernatural reimagining".
The classic story - which was famously made into an animated musical by Disney in 1992, which in turn got a live action adaptation in 2019 - is the latest family film to be given a terrifying twist.
As reported by Deadline, the synopsis for 'Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw' reads: "A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price.
"As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made."
The movie - which comes from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment and 8th Law Pictures - is set to start filming next month in the UK.
The cast will include 'Queen of the South' star Nick Sagar, former 'EastEnders' actor Ricky Norwood, and Tell Me Everything's Montana Manning.
'Terrifier 3' star Bradley Stryker is also part of the cast, and will direct the film from a screenplay by Charley McDougall.
McDougall said in a statement: "We always wanted to explore horror through a personal lens — not just the scares, but the human cost of wishes. “This story’s been haunting us for a while, and it’s time to let it loose. The best horror films haunt you long after the credits roll. That’s what this story does.
"It’s sharp, emotional, and full of dread in all the right ways. We’re not just making another horror film — we’re building a world around a truly iconic concept. The paw, the mythology, the characters — it’s all there.”
Meanwhile, Stryker insisted the film will carry "diabolical and entertaining" stakes as film fans are taken on a journey.
He added: "This film will be so much fun — it’s all about the peaks and valleys; the highs of lows of what we deem our dreams and desires… and then we slam that into a genre film in which the stakes have never been more diabolical and entertaining.”
It's not the first time a character associated with Disney has been given the horror treatment, after the likes of 'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' and 'Mickey's Mouse Trap'.
The latter was announced at the beginning of 2024 after 'Steamboat Willie' - the earliest iteration of Disney's iconic mouse mascot - entered public domain.
The slasher - which was released on demand in the US - focused on a killer wearing a mouse mask targeting college kids at a local arcade.
When it comes to 'Aladdin', Mena Massoud - who played the title role in Guy Ritchie's live-action remake six years ago - previously played down plans for a sequel after the Hollywood strikes.
He told Screen Rant in 2023: "I don't have any updates. I think like you said, the strike kind of just put everything on hold. I know they were trying to get it off the ground for a long time but I have no idea where it's at.
"Listen, we shot in 2017. It's been six years now since we shot and wrapped the project. To me, at a certain point, life just goes on."
He continued: "I'm sure they have their reasons. I know they were trying for a long time, so I don't know what the obstacles exactly were. But maybe now the strike is over, they'll continue to try to get it off the ground."
