Aladdin to get his own horror movie:Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw

Aladdin, the famous Arabian children's tale, will be turned into a chilling horror movie. Aladdin joins the latest trend in the horror genre that consists of taking an adorable children's tale and transforming it into a creepy story. This trend was started by Winnie the Pooh and continued by Peter Pan, Pinocchio and several others. The film industry plans to transform many more children's stories in the coming years.

Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw is directed by Bradley Stryker, who also stars in the movie alongside Nick Sagar, Ricky Norwood, and Montana Manning. Production is scheduled to begin in May 2025 in the United Kingdom, with the project being produced by Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures.

The official synopsis reveals a modern twist on the classic narrative. The horror film is about a modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price. As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made .

The darkness shown from the beginning of the film will not be a temporary occurrence, but will increase as each wish is granted, forcing Aladdin to confront a demonic force that feeds on his desires.

This adaptation aims to explore not only the horror elements but also the emotional consequences of desires and wishes, emphasizing the human cost associated with them. Charley McDougall, the screenwriter, noted that the film intends to provide a haunting experience that lingers with the audience long after viewing.

For those who don't know, the original tale of Aladdin is about A lazy boy encounters an African magician who claims to be his uncle. This magician tricks him into entering a cave and bringing him a magic lamp. Aladdin manages to obtain the lamp, but the magician tries to trap him in the cave. However, Aladdin discovers that he can summon a genie by rubbing the lamp, who grants his wishes.

With the genie's help, Aladdin becomes a rich man, builds a palace, and falls in love with the sultan's daughter. To win the princess's hand, Aladdin uses the genie's powers to impress the sultan. However, the magician returns to retrieve the lamp, and after several confrontations, Aladdin manages to defeat him and win back his life and his love.

The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU)

The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU) is a British multimedia franchise that reimagines beloved children's characters as horror villains. Created by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and produced by Jagged Edge Productions, the TCU serves as a shared continuity for independent slasher-horror films, each drawing from public domain children's media.

The franchise began with the film Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, which was released in 2023. This film, while receiving a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike, proved to be financially successful, grossing over $5 million against a modest budget of $100,000. The film's premise involved a dark transformation of the classic character Winnie-the-Pooh into a murderous figure, setting the tone for the franchise's future projects.

The TCU aims to establish a shared cinematic universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where characters from various films will eventually interact. This ambitious plan includes a storyline where these twisted versions of childhood characters team up to confront their victims and dominate the world.

This horror trend is carving out a niche in the horror genre by transforming familiar childhood figures into dark, murderous entities, appealing to audiences looking for innovative and unsettling reinterpretations of classic tales.

Aladdin: The Monkey's Paw is not just another horror movie. The film industry is building a world around a truly iconic concept. If the horror lovers were expecting a run-of-the-mill slasher or a forgettable jump scare, that's not what will happen . it seems the film industry wants to go for something more elaborate, with a deep mythology, powerful characters, and a tone that will stay with you long after the credits roll.