Mena Massoud
Share and Follow


Mena Massoud has slowly but surely been establishing himself in Hollywood. The actor is now best known for playing Aladdin in the 2019 live action remake of the classic Disney animated film of 1992.


Before that, Massoud had featured in a main role in the Canadian mystery drama TV series Open Heart in 2015, as a character known as Jared Malik. His other notable acting gigs before partnering up with Will Smith in Aladdin also included a recurring role as Tarek Kassar in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.

Aladdin received mixed reviews from critics, although Massoud, Smith and the rest of the cast were praised for their performances. Audiences also voted with their pockets, as the movie became the ninth-highest grossing of 2019 with a box office return of more than $1 billion.

RELATED: Our 20 Favorite Will Smith Movies, Ranked From Flop To Money-Maker

In doing so, the film effectively shot right up the top of the list of Smith’s best performing movies ever, based on money made at the box office.

Massoud might have expected that given his critical role in such a successful film, offers for new jobs would have come rolling his way. He would find that expectation to be way off the mark.


Mena Massoud Struggled To Find Work After Aladdin

Aladdin was officially released on May 24 2019, having premiered about a fortnight before at Le Grand Rex in Paris. Many critics took issue with elements such as CGI in the film, as well as some of the creative choices made by director Guy Ritchie.

Mena Massoud stood high above any criticism, though, as fans and critics alike came together to offer praise for his performance. Aja Romano of Vox said that the actor “captured Aladdin’s irrepressible charisma every second he [was] onscreen,” with other reviews calling his depiction of the popular character “perfect” and “excellent.”

RELATED: 8 Aladdin Fan Theories That Could Be True (7 That Are Ridiculous)

Despite this, the months after the release of the picture were a slog for Massoud: Not only did he not receive any offers for new roles in other movies, he was not even invited for a single audition. The actor revealed this when he sat down for an interview with The Daily Beast in December of the same year.

What Did Will Smith Make Of Mena Massoud’s Struggles After Aladdin?

“I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin,” Massoud told The Daily Beast. “People think, ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out.”

Having been in the industry for a lot longer, Will Smith would have known what it is like to experience ups and downs in his career. Unlike Mena Massoud, however, 2019 was more of an up than a down year for Smith. After Aladdin, he would go on to feature in two other dramatic films, and two more in the year that followed.

The two movies that Smith starred in following Aladdin in 2019 were Spies in Disguise and the box office flop, Gemini Man. It was during a red carpet event for the former that a question was put to him about Massoud’s predicament of not landing any other auditions that year.

RELATED: Every Will Smith Project Currently On Hold Following His Oscars Slap Incident

When asked by Variety for his reaction, Smith said: “I’m just hearing that [Massoud has not gotten any auditions] right now, so I haven’t spoken to Mena. But he is a spectacular actor, and he has nothing to worry about.”

Has Mena Massoud Landed Any New Roles Since Aladdin?

True to Will Smith’s words, it wasn’t too long before Mena Massoud’s special talents got him back in the thick of the action. In the same year that Aladdin was released, he also featured in a thriller film titled Strange but True, although he would have likely auditioned for that beforehand.

In 2020, however, Massoud played a character called Kamal Arafa in the drama film Run This Town by Ricky Tollman. The cast line-up for that particular picture also included the likes of Ben Platt, Nina Dobrev, Scott Speedman and Damian Lewis.

The following year, Massoud also voiced a character in the animated film Lamya’s Poem, where “a young Syrian refugee girl finds solace in her inner fantasy life, as she reads and is inspired by the poetry of Rumi.” It was the ancient Persian poet to whom Massoud lent his voice in the movie.

The actor also got to star as Prince Thomas in the romance film The Royal Treatment, which was released on Netflix in January 2022.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Tom Schwartz Reveals What Max Said Following His Encounter with Katie

12 Credit: Jen Lowery / MEGA, MEGA After Katie Maloney was put…

Diddy’s Famous Network: Exploring His Friendships and Collaborations Through the Years

Justin Bieber, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Will Smith. Getty Images (3) Sean…

DDG and Halle Bailey Couldn’t Contain Their Excitement When Their Son Halo Spoke His First Word

Halle Bailey and DDG have shared their reaction to their son’s first…

Aubrey O’Day Says Former Boss Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Lawsuit Came ‘Too Late’

Highlights Aubrey O’Day wasn’t shocked by the accusations against Diddy Combs; she…

50 Cent Responds to Claims Naming Ex Daphne Joy as Alleged Escort in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Legal Case

50 Cent reacted to learning his ex Daphne Joy was named as…

Marcus Jordan Critiques Larsa Pippen, Accuses Her of Seeking Publicity

8 Credit: Instagram Marcus Jordan seemingly shaded his ex Larsa Pippen for…

Morning Live presenter receives support from colleagues following the sharing of a family tragedy.

Morning Live presenter Michelle Ackerley has received support from her BBC co-stars…

Annemarie Wiley’s Husband from RHOBH Criticizes Crystal & Garcelle

315 Credit: Ryan Hartford/startraksphoto.com, Nicole Weingart/Bravo Annemarie Wiley‘s husband, Marcellus Wiley, took…