Will Smith is the Genie in Disney's Aladdin

Within hours of release of the teaser, social media was abuzz with surprise

Will Smith

Dark caves, magic carpets, a vibrant fictitious city and a Genie that has raised some eyebrows. Disney's Aladdin, slated to release in May, promises to be an entertaining yet serious watch with a unique cast.

Walt Disney Studios on Monday released a one-minute-long teaser for the film directed by Guy Ritchie and written by John August.

We all know the classic fairy tale of Aladdin and his love story with Princess Jasmine. The 2019 adaptation, however, might hold a few surprises. With a menacing king who might be behind the magic lamp, and a fun-loving genie played by none other than Will Smith,

Aladdin might be one of the many fairy tales that are getting a more 'serious' remake these days.

Within hours of release of the teaser, social media was abuzz with surprise, and even horror, over casting Smith as the blue magic creature. While some called Smith 'the blue Shrek', a few others were agog with excitement over the casting.

Guy Ritchie is known for films like Sherlock Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The film stars Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia; Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders; and Numan Acar as Hakim.

Eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken has scored the music for the film, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar-winning lyricists Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

Aladdin will hit the screens on May 24, 2019.