We’ve been waiting on the release of Aladdin. The live-action remake of a Disney classic features Egyptian actor Mena Massoud as the titular character we all know and love. He stars alongside British-Indian actress Naomi Scott (Princess Jasmine) and Will Smith (Genie). Ahead of the film release in the United Arab Emirates ( Thursday, May 23), Massoud took to Instagram to share a message with his fellow Egyptians before its release.
In a video uploaded to Instagram, the actor invites his Egyptian fans to watch the movie (in perfect Arabic) and ended his message by repeatedly saying “Long Live Egypt”.
“People of Egypt, hello! I am so excited for you to watch Disney’s production, Aladdin. I am proud to be part of the film and I hope you’ll like and enjoy it just as much as I enjoyed myself while filming it,” the actor said.
Massoud was born in Egypt to parents of Egyptian origin but was raised in Canada and he hasn’t forgotten his origins. In a press conference promoting the movie in Jordan, he opened his address by wishing the people present a blessed Ramadan.
“Inshallah, may God bring more happy days to the Arab and Muslim communities and Ramadan Kareem,” the actor began.
With Egyptian creatives like Massoud and Rami Malek coming to the forefront of Hollywood, we’re excited to see where the industry goes from here.
The poster for the movie Aladdin, coming out May 23, 2019. Courtesy of IMDB.
Read next: Naomi Scott’s Embellished Armani Privé Stole the Show at Aladdin’s Jordan Premiere
