British director Guy Ritchie is said to be nearing a deal to take charge of a forthcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic movie Aladdin, according to new reports.

The Hollywood Reporter cited Dan Lin, who helped 48 year old filmmaker Ritchie on his two Sherlock Holmes movies which starred Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, as promising an “ambitious and non-traditional” spin on the 1992 animation, while retaining a large number of the musical elements of the beloved original.

Guy RitchieGuy Ritchie could be directing a live-action re-make of 'Aladdin' for Disney

Disney’s original Aladdin, an adaptation of a Middle Eastern folk tale, was enormously successful nearly a quarter of a century ago, anchored around Robin Williams’ memorable performance as the Genie who grants Aladdin three wishes.

It became the highest-grossing movie of 1992, and won two Oscars the following year for Best Score and Best Song (for ‘A Whole New World’), one of six original number composed for the film and which fans will be hoping Ritchie keeps for his live-action take.

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Rocco Scriptwriter John August, behind Big Fish, has constructed a non-linear script for the new project, which is a typical Ritchie movie device, like two of his earliest projects Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

Ritchie, who recently settled his lengthy custody dispute with ex-wife Madonna over the living arrangements of his teenage son Rocco, is currently working on post-production for King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, an adaptation of the Camelot legend, which is scheduled for release in March next year.

It’s just the latest of Disney’s cache of fondly-remembered animations that’s getting a live-action makeover. Following successful takes on Cinderella and The Jungle Book over the last 18 months, Beauty and the Beast is scheduled for release in March 2017, and re-makes of Mulan and The Lion King have recently been announced for as-yet-unconfirmed dates.

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