The star of Disney’s live-action remake of ‘Aladdin,’ Mena Massoud, says his acting career has not grown since starring in the movie.
Despite the fact ‘Aladdin’ made over $1 billion at the box office, Massoud says he has not had a single audition since the movie premiered. In an interview with The Daily Beast, the actor says he is “tired of staying quiet about it.” Adding, “I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like ‘Aladdin.’ ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since ‘Aladdin’ came out.”
Out of 2000 actors and a worldwide talent search, Massoud was chosen to play Aladdin. The 28-year-old Egyptian actor explains he is not ungrateful for the opportunity, but he is surprised it did not lead to more opportunities.
“It’s wild to a lot of people,” Massoud said. “People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I’m sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”
He continued: “I think since ‘Aladdin’ my expectations for things releasing and what they’re going to do in my career, I’ve had to really pull them back. Because, you know, I got the same question about ‘Aladdin’ and it was like, ‘Oh, you know, Aladdin’s coming out. How do you feel about what that’s going to do to your career?’ The big truth is I haven’t really seen a big anything from it. As for whether people are gonna discover me from it or what it’s going to do, I literally have no clue. I can’t tell you I know how things are going to work out anymore.”
Massoud said he will be seen in the Hulu series ‘Reprisal’ that airs on Friday, and his only other role is in the animated film ‘Lamya’s Poem’.
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