We live in a time when classic characters are getting horror makeovers to the extent that it’s fast becoming their own sub-genre. The trend started with Winnie the Pooh coming into the public domain and turning into Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey which saw some success and turned up a universe in two years. Since then, any classic character that comes into or already exists in the public domain is getting twisted treatment, be it Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Bambi, or Peter Pan. Joining the ranks is Aladdin.
Bloody Disgusting reports, a two-part twisted take featuring the iconic Arabian Nights character is in the works. B22 Films is making Aladdin and Aladdin’s Revenge, which will present a darker take on the Middle Eastern folktale. The movie is written and directed by Brett Bentman, known for horror titles like Bull Shark, Meteor, Foreclosure, and more. The first of the two features, Aladdin, will start filming in Oklahoma later this month, with a 2026 release planned.
What’s ‘Aladdin’ About?
The original Arabian Nights’ story follows the titular hero, who finds a magic lamp and wants to become a prince so that he can marry Princess Jasmine. However, the upcoming adaptation will gender swap the hero for a female lead and redefine “be careful for what you wish for.” As per the synopsis, the two-part saga will follow “a struggling young woman who stumbles upon a magical lamp that offers the ability to grant three wishes – wishes that go horribly wrong…” which sounds like a cautionary tale. Bentman further explains,
“This Aladdin is rooted in the ancient tale. It’s the story about wanting things so badly, unaware of the consequences, that these characters just wish for them and from there, things go haywire.”
Aladdin stars scream queen Devanny Pinn, whose credits include independent films like Frost, Black Mass, Area 51 Confidential, and more, and Bentman’s frequent collaborator, Billy Blair, whose credits include Machete, Three From Hell among others. It’s produced by Tiffany McDonald and Bentman’s B22 Films. While executive producers include Stuart Alson and Nicole Holland.
Disney’s animated Aladdin first debuted in 1992, which was a huge success, in part thanks to Robin Williams’ iconic portrayal of Genie. The success spawned two direct-to-video sequels, The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, an animated television series. In recent times, Guy Ritchie made the live-action Aladdin with Will Smith as the Genie. And also, there’s another horror, Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, in the making. It remains to be seen how fans respond to the upcoming horror version.
Aladdin will drop sometime in 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.
Aladdin
- Release Date
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1994 – 1994
- Network
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CBS, Syndication, Disney Channel
- Directors
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Alan Zaslove, Rob LaDuca, Toby Shelton
- Writers
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Bill Motz, Bob Roth, Jan Strnad, Steve Roberts, Brian Swenlin, Michael Ryan, Kevin D. Campbell, Tad Stones, Mark Saraceni
Cast
Source: BloodyDisgusting