Disney Basically Betrayed Robin Williams (That's Why He Passed on Aladdin 2)

Aladdin has become a true cult animation. It had many bright characters, but the most charismatic is undoubtedly Genie.

Genie's appearance was taken from actor and comedian Robin Williams, who also provided the voice for the character. Robin received only $75,000 for his voice work in Aladdin in 1992, while his usual fee at that time was $8 million.

The actor had one condition – the studio would not use his voice for any major merchandising or marketing.

But Disney violated this condition, which led to a conflict between the studio and the actor. As a result, Robin Williams refused to take part in the next projects.

Therefore, in the second animated movie of The Return of Jafar, as well as throughout the animated series, Genie was voiced by actor Dan Castellaneta, better known as the voice of Homer Simpson.

For the same reason, Genie looked different and no longer resembled Williams.

Relations between Williams and Disney improved when Joe Roth took over as head of the studio and issued a public apology to the actor in 1994.

As a result, Robin returned to voice the beloved character in 1996's Aladdin and the King of Thieves. However, to be on the safe side and not be fooled by the studio again, Robin signed an agreement with Disney.

According to this agreement, Disney was not only prohibited from using the voice of a comedian who has recorded enough Genie voices for several sequels and prequels to Aladdin, but was not allowed to include the character in the plot at all.

Moreover, according to this agreement, the studio had no right to make a sequel to this animation even without the Genie. But what's Aladdin without Genie?

Apparently, this agreement has already lost its force, as a live-action remake of Aladdin, starring Will Smith as Genie, was released in 2019.

The movie was warmly received by viewers, but many recognized that Robin Williams was the soul of the original animation, which was missing in the new adaptation.