5 SPECTACULAR THINGS WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IN DISNEY’S ALADDIN 

By Candice Chua

Plus, the filmmaking magic that went behind creating them, from a giant camel made out of flowers to the mystical flying carpet.

A whole new world is where we want to be – and we don’t have to wait long, because Disney’s Aladdin is arriving very soon! With a star-studded cast, incredible sets and costumes, musical numbers both old and new, state-of-the-art visual effects and a timeless story about a diamond in the rough, we know that Disney’s Aladdin will be an adventure like no other.

For Disney’s Aladdin, magic happens behind the scenes, too. Here, the five things we’re most excited to see in the film, and the fascinating details that went into bringing them to life.

#1: AGRABAH IN “REEL” LIFE

Agrabah may be a fictitious port city, but it was inspired by real places. To create Agrabah, Emmy Award-winning production designer Gemma Jackson took inspiration from Moroccan, Persian and Turkish architecture and elements of Arab, Indian and South Asian cultures. It took the art department just 15 weeks to build the colossal Agrabah set, one that spans the size of two football fields. Saying that we’re excited to see Agrabah in its full glory is an understatement.

#2: THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF “PRINCE ALI”

The “Prince Ali” sequence is so lavish that it needed seven cameras to capture all the splendour of the parade. With over 250 dancers, 200 extras and just as many costumes, and – the crème de la crème – a 30-foot yellow flower camel on which Prince Ali arrives at the palace, it’s no wonder that this sequence is the biggest production number in the film. The camel required 15 model makers, 37,000 flower heads and three weeks to build!

#3: JASMINE’S DAZZLING OUTFITS

Jasmine has a total of nine incredible outfits, all of which are boldly coloured to match her strong personality, including a gorgeous magenta gown with turquoise accents, jewels, coin trimmings and – get this – a 10-foot train! Her wardrobe is a little unique in the film because it draws inspiration from both traditional Arab fashion and South Asia, the latter to reflect actress Naomi Scott’s South Asian heritage.

#4: THE WONDROUS CAVE OF WONDERS

We just know the Cave of Wonders will be, well, exactly as it sounds. Beginning with an enormous lion head, the Cave of Wonders we see in Disney’s Aladdin will be one covered with treasures and with jewels sourced from across the South Asian region. Some of the jewels were actually recast in rubber and placed on the floor of the cave so that the cast and crew could walk comfortably on set. That’s a filmmaking secret for you!

#5: AND FINALLY, THE “A WHOLE NEW WORLD” SEQUENCE!

Argh, how can anyone not be thrilled to see a reimagining of such an iconic musical number? To create the technical magic behind the flying carpet, a six-axis hydraulic platform was used. The surface on which Mena Massoud (Aladdin) and Naomi Scott (Jasmine) sat on comprised hundreds of metallic pins that could be moved up and down and from side to side. We’ve seen snippets of the sequence in the trailers, and we absolutely cannot wait to see – and singalong to it – in the cinema. Our tissues are ready.

Disney’s Aladdin arrives in cinemas 23 May. Watch the trailer below! Get tickets and showtimes here.