Calgary 'Aladdin' Star Mena Massoud Says He Can't Land An Audition In Spite Of Film's Success | HuffPost Entertainment - Action.News ABC Action News WestNet-HD Weather Traffic

Mena Massoud beat out more than 2,000 other actors for the titular role in Disneys live-action remake of Aladdin , but he says the success of that film hasnt led to further work.

Speaking to The Daily Beast , the Egyptian-Canadian actor revealed he has yet to book an audition since Aladdin opened in May.

Im kind of tired of staying quiet about it, he said in the interview, published Tuesday. I want people to know that its not always dandelions and roses when youre doing something like Aladdin. He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers. Its none of those things. I havent had a single audition since Aladdin came out.

Massoud is currently on a promotional tour for the new drama series Reprisal, premiering Friday on Hulu. The 28-year-old also stars opposite Ben Platt in the film Run This Town , which debuted at South by Southwest in March.

Both of those roles, Massoud said, were secured well before Aladdin was released. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the new adaptation of the 1992 animated classic overcame mixed reviews to rake in $1 billion at the box office worldwide. Since then, the actor said he continues to feel overlooked and underestimated by Hollywood.

People have these ideas in their head, he said. Its like, Im sitting here being like, OK, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like Im not expecting you to be like, heres Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So its not always what you think.

Egypt this ones for you! #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/T72pVDCwlH

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Egypt this ones for you! #Aladdin pic.twitter.com/T72pVDCwlH
Mena Massoud (@MenaMassoud) May 19, 2019

Massoud made his television debut in 2011, playing a minor character on the CWs Nikita designated only as al Qaeda No. 2 . In the intervening years, he said hes set a goal to embody characters who arent terrorists or would otherwise reflect negatively on his Middle Eastern background.

In spite of the boffo box office of Aladdin, he continues to feel like a wild card in the casting room, and suggests that has much to do with white actors long-held monopoly on starring roles in mainstream Hollywood.

Theres always a wild card or two when youre casting, Massoud said. Im usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, OK, lets see, like, two guys who arent. And maybe theyll be the wild card choice.

I think since Aladdin my expectations for things releasing and what theyre going to do in my career, Ive had to really pull them back, he continued. The big truth is I havent really seen a big anything from it. ... I cant tell you I know how things are going to work out anymore.

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