Disney slammed for ‘browning up’ white actors to star in Aladdin in London
The live action remake of the classic cartoon has been blasted after extras said Caucasian actors were having their faces darkened for the movie
DISNEY has been blasted after bosses owned up to browning up white extras during the filming of Aladdin.
The live action remake of the classic cartoon was being shot at Longcross Studios in Surrey under the direction of Guy Ritchie.
But despite filming less than 30 miles from London, which has over a million Asian people living in it, Disney said it had to bring in white actors as extras.
The studio said they couldn't fill positions for stunt men, dancers and camel handlers couldn't be filled for the movie, which stars Will Smith as the Genie.
Disney that 400 of the 500 background performers were Indian, Middle Eastern, African, Mediterranean and Asian, reported the .
They claimed the film was the most diversely cast movie in the company's history.
The tale from the fictional Arabian country Agrabah, was immortalised in the 1992 animation starring Robin Williams.
Brit actress Naomi Scott, who is of Indian heritage, is playing Princess Jasmine while Egyptian-born Canadian Mena Massoud is playing the eponymous thief.
But despite this the film has been hammered by critics with BAFTA-nominated director Riaz Meer accusing them hurling an "insult to the whole industry".
The member of the Broadcast, Entertainment, Cinematograph and theatre union's black members' committee, refuses to believe Asian extras could not have filled the roles.
He said: "Failing to hire on-screen talent of the right ethnic identity to meet the clear needs of this productions is just plain wrong. We expect better from all filmmakers."
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Extra Kaushal Odedra was a stand in for a lead star in the film and told the Times he saw around 20 "very fair skinned" actors waiting to be browned up in make up tents.
He also claimed white extras were being browned up for crowd shots.
The 32-year-old said: "Disney are sending out a message that your skin colour, your identity, your life experiences amount to nothing that can be powered on and washed off."
The Sun Online has contacted Disney for comment.
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