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Who is the main character of "Aladdin"?

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[quote="Salukfan"]I've meant to type this up forever...

In ... 2007, I think? I ordered press kits for both ROJ and KOT.  The ROJ didn't have much to it, but the KOT one has a lot more about the history of the film. I figured I'd post some of it to read, if you guys are interested! There's some interesting quotes from the writers, director, and actors throughout, and some great sections on the music, animation process, and character development.

Interestingly, or maybe just predictably, there's no mention of the series whatsoever, even in actor bios.  For example, it only says that Scott Weinger reprised the role of Aladdin in ROJ... and no implication of any other time than that.

I thought I'd post a section (the longest, actually :lol:) to get started. If you want to read more, let me know, I'm willing to type it up!

... and if this is illegal, someone let me know.  :lol:

[b]Developing the Characters: 
[/b]
In addition to Robin Williams, the three-time Academy Award nominated headliner of such hits as "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Jumani" and the recent box office smash, "The Birdcage," ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES features a cast of extraordinary voice talents which includes familiar voices from the first two films, as well as two new dramatic artists.

Scott Weinger is once again the street rat-turned-hero, Aladdin, and Linda Larkin portrays his lovely bride-to-be, Jasmine.  Their musical numbers are delivered by two remarkable young singers, Brad Kane (singing voice in both "Aladdin" and "The Return of Jafar") and Liz Callaway (singing voice in "The Return of Jafar").  Classically trained veteran actor Val Bettin is Jasmine's proud, but befuddled, papa, the Sultan.  Multi-faceted Frank Welker comes up with the unique dialect of Aladdin's patient pal, Abu, the monkey, and zany comic Gilbert Gottfried screams back onto the screen as the squawking, egocentric parrot, Iago.

Joining the cast to create two unforgettable new characters are popular British actor John Rhys-Davies ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") as Aladdin's father, Cassim, the King of Thieves, and TV/film/stage star Jerry Orbach (who brought down the house as Lumiere when he sang "Be Our Guest" in the Walt Disney Animated Masterpiece "Beauty and the Beast") as the unscrupulous Sa'luk.

Cast originals Scott Weinger and Linda Larkin are thrilled about their characters' wedding plans.  "They've been dating for a long time!" jokes Weinger, "It's about time Aladdin and Jasmine get married."  Larkin reminds us, "Jasmine has been trying to find her true love for two movies now!  She and Aladdin are truly in love and now they are really ready to spend the rest of their lives together.  I think they'll be very happy!"

Thanks to the intelligent scripting of the stories, both Aladdin and Jasmine have grown and changed since audiences were first introduced to the devil-may-care street rat and the sheltered Princess.

"Aladdin and Jasmine are from completely disparate backgrounds," points out Weinger.  "She grew up within the confines of the palace walls, not knowing what life was like outside until she met him on her first adventure in the real world.  At the beginning, he was a young, innocent guy, just a common street thief, living day-to-day.  When it turns out his father is the King of Thieves, the most notorious villain of all time, it's Aladdin's duty as a citizen, as a son, to reform his father.  Aladdin has matured a lot since the first movie."

Jasmine, too, has come a long way toward becoming an adult.  Linda Larkin sees her character as "still strong-willed, a ruler, but she's grown out of a lot of teenage things.  She's a very loving and tender person, extremely human.  When Jasmine learns that Aladdin's father is alive, she is very excited-- she wants him to be a part of their lives.  The ultimate choice for this young woman is to marry the man that she loves."

And Jasmine's father, the Sultan, is eager to at last give away his lovely daughter to the young man who has proved worthy of her.  According to Val Bettin, who voices the proud papa: "At first, the Sultan was wary of Aladdin's relationship with his daughter.  Now he's convinced he has a young man of integrity there and is quite delighted that Aladdin is marrying his precious flower.  As the story line has progressed, the Sultan has become more rounded-out, more complete as a human being."

Genie, of course, has been devoted to his young buddy from the memorable moment he was released from his bottle in the original story.  "Genie's always there for Aladdin when he's in a bind," says Weinger.  "When the situation gets serious, Genie's always trying to lighten things up; he always manages to get in a good joke and brighten things up."

However, Iago, the wise-cracking parrot, is still looking out for number one, still as obsessed with treasure as he ever was.  And he doesn't care who helps him get it!   "Iago is a fickle character," admits Gilbert Gottfried, the zany stand-up comic who voices the rambunctious bird.  "At first, he was a totally evil parrot, the henchman of Jafar."  Scott Weinger agrees: "Iago was Aladdin's enemy, who Aladdin wouldn't mind seeing in a sandwich or something!  Anyway, you know, people change, parrots change."  In "The Return of Jafar," Iago became a reluctant friend of Aladdin, and was torn in his allegiance.  At the beginning of this third and final chapter, Iago has, in Weinger's words, "crossed over to the good side.  Of course, he's still up to his old tricks.  He's always greedy, always trying to get himself out of dangerous situations.  If Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie and Iago are in a bind, Iago's getting out, he's saving his own feathers!  But he's also very appealing, as a result of the brilliant artistry of Gilbert Gottfried."

Throughout the adventure, Aladdin is accompanied not only by Genie and Iago, but also by faithful Abu, the little monkey who was his only companion during the time the two lived by their wits in the streets of Agrabah.

In ALADDIN AND THE KING OF THIEVES, audiences learn an extraordinary secret-- that Aladdin's long-lost father, Cassim, who he believed dead, is in fact living a life of larceny as the King of Thieves, the leader of the 40 Thieves of song and story.  Handsome, tall and bearded, with streaks of gray in his shaggy black hair, Cassim wears a sweeping blue cloak, fasted at the shoulder with a gold clasp in the image of the legendary Hand of Midas.  It was his compulsive quest for this "ultimate treasure" that separated him from his family in the first place, and which now nearly costs him and his new-found son their lives.

"Cassim is a very contemporary character in one respect," explains John Rhys-Davies, the actor whose mellifluous voice brings Aladdin's father to the screen.  "Our society is littered with able and clever men who have pursued their dreams at the expense of their families, and they reach a time when they realize that their family was far more important than any dream they could have had.  Cassim is divided still, because he has ambitions which haven't been fulfilled.  But the discovery of his son brings ballast to his life, and sets him on a safe and stabilizing course."

The right-hand man to the King of Thieves is Sa'luk, a towering, muscular cutthroat with a bald head, an earring, and two sweeping mustachios.  He wields a deadly weapon-- three short, slashing blades he wears on the back of his hand like brass knuckles-- which he uses to wrest control of the band of 40 Thieves from their leader, Cassim.  His gravelly, threatening voice is provided by Jerry Orbach, who sees Sa'luk as "the epitome of evil" but admits that "it's fun to play the bad guy!"  The popular stage/TV star explains that "you can go over the top [in an animated film].  There's a great deal of freedom.  Here, you can go to the extremes of emotion, and madness, and silliness.  As actors, we don't often get the chance to be this big and broad and hokey, you know?  To do big, nasty laughs, and g-r-r-rowls... you can't do that in the movies.  People would think you're nuts!"[/quote]

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