Alan Menken,Howard Ashman, andTim Ricedid some outstanding music for 1992’s animatedAladdinincluding hits like “One Jump Ahead”, “Friend Like Me”, “Prince Ali”, and “A Whole New World.” NowGuy Ritchieis adapting the animated classic into a live-action feature, and while it will retain the songs from the original, Menken andLa La LandsongwritersBenj PasekandJustin Paulare adding a few new tunes to the lineup.
Speaking toVariety, Pasek and Paul revealed what they’ve added to the movie:
“We got to write a new song for Jasmine,” Paul tellsVariety. “Alan wrote a beautiful piece of music and [Scott] is incredible.”
They also wrote a duet for Aladdin and Jasmine. “It’s a sweet song,” Paul said.
They even got to write a new verse for the original film’s “Arabian Nights.”
On the one hand, I’m glad that Jasmine gets her own song, and hopefully it will be as good as the ones that Aladdin and the Genie get. On the other hand, it takes some serious stones to think, “You know, ‘A Whole New World’ is a classic, but let’s see if we can give them another duet that’s just as good.” To Pasek and Paul’s credit, they know how to write catchy, fun tunes, so it will still probably be fine.
The additions of new songs shouldn’t be too surprising when you consider that the same was done with the live-actionBeauty and the Beast, and while none of the new additions were particularly memorable, they didn’t exactly hurt the movie at the box office.
Aladdinopens July 18, 2025 and starsMena Massoudas Aladdin,Naomi Scottas Jasmine,Will Smithas the Genie,Marwan Kenzarias Jafar,Navid Negahbanas the Sultan,Nasim Pedradas Jasmine’s handmaiden,Billy Magnussenas a potential suitor for the Princess, andNuman Acaras Jafar’s right-hand man.
