Mena Massoud Shares His ‘Mentality Shift’ 5 Years After Revealing Trouble Landing Auditions Post Aladdin

https://people.com/mena-massoud-mentality-shift-landing-roles-exclusive-8776567

8 comments

  1. > “I think it’s a mentality shift more than anything,” Massoud says. “I think we can get stuck in looking at things in a negative way or a positive way.”

    > “At that time, I was younger. I filmed Aladdin in 2017, so it’s been almost eight years now. And, I think you mature as you go through this industry and you realize like, I mean, look, we’re pretty lucky to do what we’re doing. There’s ups and downs in everything, and I think as long as you keep that passion for what you’re doing, that’s the most important thing.”

  2. I like him, he wasn’t wrong. I’m surprised his career didn’t boom after Aladdin. I think it’s just one of those unspoken things for actors where you act like everything is easy and comes to you naturally.

  3. He was great in Aladdin, and I’ve yet to see him in anything else. I do hope his best years are ahead of him.

  4. It really makes no sense that really none of the leads in these Disney remakes seem to be having successful careers past their stint at Disney. Emma Watson lowkey fell off the face of the earth after Beauty and the Beast; I’m not seeing any projects lined up for Halle Bailey; Lily James, Richard Madden, and Elle Fanning are here and there, and the backslash towards Rachel Ziegler could hurt her after Snow White drops. I know people need that paycheck and exposure but… eh. I’d be hesitant to jump into one of these Disney remake projects.

  5. This guys story has stuck in my head for years. Thanks for posting the update

  6. didn’t he complain about the little mermaid’s box office or something earlier? and he was right😭it didn’t hit 1b, only about half of it. he’s good in aladdin. rooting for him and naomi! hope to see more projects from them

  7. There’s definitely more to his story than what appears to be. There have been countless roles since Aladdin was released that had actors from Middle-Eastern backgrounds. Hell, the year Aladdin was released, an Egyptian won the Academy award for best actor. So I don’t think that’s the issue.

    Either Mena has terrible behind-the-scenes behaviors and his actions caught word around or he simply doesn’t have great representatives that could’ve seized the opportunity.

    But every interview he gives, he makes it seem like his Middle-Eastern background is the reason why doesn’t get booked when so many movies and TV shows since Aladdin was released either have actors with Middle-Eastern backgrounds or roles that require such.

    Something is fishy with his story.

  8. If Robert Pattinson can beat his typecast of Edward Cullen, there is no reason other actors can’t beat theirs. They need new agents or something.

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