Disney is close to signing actor Marwan Kenzari to play the villainous Jafar in the live-action adaptation of Aladdin, BuzzFeed News has confirmed.
The Dutch-Tunisian actor recently starred in 2017's The Mummy, and 2016's The Promise and Ben-Hur, and he will appear in Murder on the Orient Express in November.

But at this moment in time, people seem to be focusing on another aspect of Kenzari's body of work.
OK, maybe just his body.
Basically, people are really thirsty for the new Jafar.
me, when i see this is who they've cast as Jafar in the live action "Aladdin"
Old School Jafar: Here for it. New Jafar (Now With Abs!): I remain resolutely here for the proverbial it.
REAAAALLLLL THIRSTY.
Live Action Jafar can get ittttttttt
In case you hadn't noticed in your feed...GAY MEN LOVE THE NEW JAFAR casting choice. Congrats @DisneyStudios
😳😳😳
The new Jafar in Ritchie's "Aladdin". Nice.
Like, will Jafar be hotter than Aladdin in this movie?
@AlannaBennett jasmine's gonna be like "lmao die in an hourglass for all i care"
@DesNYT @MarkHarrisNYC There is no Aladdin this is now a movie about jafar as far as I am concerned
Talk about a problematic fave!
Pretty sure I'm going to spend the entirety of the live action Aladdin on Jafar's side
Guess who is rooting for Jafar now
And while there are still some ~lingering questions~ about this new Jafar…
But the real question is will live action jafar be coded as gay or not
…people seem to think Disney did an A+ job with the casting.
Disney just cast this actor, Marwan Kenzari, as Jafar in the live-action Aladdin, which I...uh...that is...um...wha… https://t.co/K3EoDNDlLM