Star Billy Magnussen says the Prince Anders project, an Aladdin spinoff, is still ongoing.
Even if the pandemic caused delays and some "changes with a few companies," the Billy Magnussen-starring "Aladdin" spinoff film, Prince Anders, is still in the works. Magnussen personally broke the news to his admirers, telling them that the project is still moving forward and is not dead.
A Sneak Peek at the "Aladdin" Reboot
2019 saw the first announcement of the "Aladdin" spinoff, soon after the live-action remake's premiere. After Magnussen personally presented the idea, Michael Kvamme and Jordan Dunn were hired to create the screenplay. Magnussen first stated in 2022 that the project was still under production and going through rewrites, despite the lack of updates.
Managing the Effects of the Pandemic
Magnussen blamed the pandemic, which struck at a critical juncture in development, for the delays. Although "there were a few changes with a few companies," he clarified, assuring supporters that the project is still ongoing. This shows that the current pandemic's effects on the entertainment industry may be posing logistical and possibly even artistic challenges for the spinoff.
Beyond Aladdin: Disney's Challenges with Offshoot Content
Disney has encountered difficulties with spinoffs in the past, despite the fact that the "Aladdin" spinoff appears to be moving forward. Prior to being placed on indefinite hold, the "Beauty and the Beast" spinoff series—which centers on Luke Evans's renowned villain, Gaston—was announced and even had casting announcements. This is a pattern where Disney projects, even ones with a lot of promise and enthusiasm at first, find being shelved or delayed.
A Chronicle of Aborted Star Wars Spinoffs
Numerous spinoff projects in the "Star Wars" universe have been scrapped, adding to the troubles. A fascinating part of the "Star Wars" universe could have been explored in Guillermo del Toro's Jabba the Hutt film, but it was never given the go-ahead. The development of Patty Jenkins' "Rogue Squadron" was likewise turbulent; it went through several rewrites and ran into schedule issues with Jenkins' other DC commitments. Despite the project's original cancellation in March 2023, Jenkins appeared to bring it back when he signed a new contract with Lucasfilm in March 2024.
A Story of Two Emmy Award Winners: Weiss and Benioff
The creators of the hit HBO series "Game of Thrones," David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, were originally involved with a new "Star Wars" trilogy that was unrelated to the Skywalker saga. Nevertheless, their dedication to Netflix, where they are working on the "3 Body Problem" adaption and other projects, caused them to leave in 2019. This supports the notion that, in the film industry, even well-established artists and their endeavors may encounter unforeseen setbacks and reorientations.
