Disney changes the setting of Aladdin
The original script for Aladdin (1992) mentioned Baghdad as the city where the story was set. However, due to the political context of the time, Disney chose to change the name of the location to Agrabah, a fictional city. The decision was made during the production of the film, as the Gulf War, which took place between 1990 and 1991, involved Iraq and other countries in the Middle East, making the name Baghdad sensitive to Western audiences.
The change allowed Disney to create a more fantasy-like and timeless setting, without direct links to historical events or specific countries. Agrabah was developed with an aesthetic inspired by various cultures of the Middle East and South Asia, with influences from Persian, Indian and Arabic architecture.
This adaptation reinforced the magical and exotic aspect of the film, allowing the story of Aladdin to be told without concern for geopolitical issues. Since then, Agrabah has become one of the most iconic fictional locations in the Disney universe, being remembered as the city of One Thousand and One Nights, where the protagonist embarks on his journey alongside the Genie and Princess Jasmine.
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