Disney's 'best movie ever' to be given terrifying twist in 'soul-crushing' remake

A story that inspired Disney's "best movie ever" is about to be reimagined as a horror film, with an EastEnders icon confirmed in the cast.

The 1992 animated family film Aladdin was inspired by a slightly less safe for children story that appears in the Arabian Nights collection of folk tales. 

Disney's version introduced audiences to a more sanitised and family-friendly version of the rags-to-riches story in which the protagonist finds a lamp containing a genie who can grant him three wishes and turn his fortunes around. Meanwhile the original story collection had a much darker tone with adult themes running throughout.

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A new modern-day imagining of the tale has now been announced which is being billed as "dark" and "supernatural". Production on upcoming horror film Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw will start in the UK in May. 

As reported by Deadline, the official synopsis reads: "A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price.

"As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made."

The cast announced so far includes Ricky Norwood who played Fatboy in BBC soap EastEnders, Daddy Issues' Montana Manning and Mea Culpa's Nick Sagar. Bradley Stryker, known for his role in 2024's ultra-violent slasher film Terrifier 3 will be in the cast and also behind the camera as director.

Describing the upcoming project, Stryker teased: "This film will be so much fun — it’s all about the peaks and valleys; the highs of lows of what we deem our dreams and desires… and then we slam that into a genre film in which the stakes have never been more diabolical and entertaining."

The film comes from a screenplay by Charley McDougall, who said in a statement: "We always wanted to explore horror through a personal lens — not just the scares, but the human cost of wishes. This story’s been haunting us for a while, and it’s time to let it loose. The best horror films haunt you long after the credits roll. That’s what this story does.

"It’s sharp, emotional, and full of dread in all the right ways. We’re not just making another horror film — we’re building a world around a truly iconic concept. The paw, the mythology, the characters — it’s all there.”

Production on Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw is set to begin filming in May. A release date is yet to be announced.