He’s a long-time fan of the UAE, having visited Dubai multiple times in recent years – and Will Smith is back in town. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air star heralded his arrival in the emirate by heading up the Burj Khalifa, where he posted a selfie from the world’s tallest tower. The 50-year-old actor posed in the restroom of the building’s 154th floor, telling his 23 million followers he was “sitting on top of the world”. “The joke was too easy,” the comedian and musician admitted.
Smith’s visit comes just after a teaser dropped for his hotly anticipated new film – a live-action remake of 1992 hit Aladdin. The American star takes on the role of Genie in the Guy Richie-directed movie, a role originally voiced by Robin Williams. The 88-second-clip shows a glimpse of Egyptian-Canadian newcomer Mena Massoud as the titular character, meaning fans will have to wait for the full trailer to catch a glimpse of Princess Jasmine, Jafar, and Genie. The cast for the upcoming remake, which was partly filmed in Jordan and is set to hit theaters on May 24, 2019, has Naomi Scott, Tunisian-Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari, and former SNL star Nasim Pedrad starring alongside Smith and Massoud.
The I Am Legend star has previously shared his love for the region – particularly Dubai – revealing during a visit to the city last year that he loves its “energy”. “I came here for the first time about 15 years ago, during a time when they said 40 per cent of all of the world’s cranes were in Dubai, and the entire skyline was cranes,” he said at a press conference while in town for a Suicide Squad premiere. “When I landed I thought that’s how I would build a city if I was making one. It really flows with who I am. You never know why a city speaks to you. It’s just the energy of progress, the people, the design, the ideas.”
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