Aladdin is now getting a horror version, but the story is already too similar to an old (but good) episode of The Simpsons. The horror genre keeps being driven by trends, and one that, despite its many failures, doesn’t seem to be stopping soon is horror versions of children’s stories. This trend gained a lot of force and attention with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, kicking off many other horror movies based on children’s stories, characters, and fairy tales, both in the universe of Blood and Honey and separate from it.
Characters like Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Bambi have recently gotten this horror treatment, while others like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Mary Poppins are in the process of getting theirs. These, however, have all been within the Twisted Childhood Universe, but outside of it, other children’s stories are also about to get their horror versions. Among the most recent ones to join this trend is Aladdin, best known for its Disney version, based on the Arabic folktale of the same name, but Aladdin’s horror movie already sounds too similar to a Simpsons episode.
Aladdin Horror Movie Is About A Monkey’s Paw Granting Wishes
The Simpsons Already Dealt With A Cursed Monkey’s Paw
Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw was announced to be in development in April 2025 (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, via CBR), and as the тιтle suggests, it’s a “dark” and “supernatural” reimagining of the classic tale. What’s known about the story of Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw is that its тιтle character is a modern-day Londoner (instead of, you know, a thief like in the Disney movie or a ne’er-do-well as in the original tale) who inherits an ancient monkey’s paw. This object is believed to grant wishes, but Aladdin soon discovers that every wish comes with a huge price.
It’s a fun twist on the lamp and genie concept, but I can’t help but think of the monkey’s paw segment from The Simpsons’ second Treehouse of Horror special.
Every wish feeds a demonic force that Aladdin will have to confront when those around him fall victim to its curse. Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw is being directed by Bradley Stryker, who also stars in it, and is expected to begin filming in May 2025. It’s a fun twist on the lamp and genie concept from the original tale and the Disney adaptation, but I can’t help but think of the monkey’s paw segment from The Simpsons’ second Treehouse of Horror special.
The episode starts with Lisa, Bart, and Homer eating too much candy before bed on Halloween night, which gives them nightmares. Lisa’s nightmare, “The Monkey’s Paw”, sees the Simpsons visiting Morocco, where Homer buys a monkey’s paw that grants wishes but also brings great misfortune. Maggie makes the first wish and gets a golden pacifier without major consequences, but when Bart wishes for the family to be rich and famous, it causes public backlash against the family as they are everywhere.
Next is Lisa, who wishes for world peace, but Kang and Kodos take advantage of this and invade Earth, enslaving humanity. Homer wishes for a turkey sandwich without surprises, but when the turkey is a little dry, he throws the paw away, and Ned Flanders finds it. Ned wishes to get rid of the aliens, thus becoming a hero, and later wishes for his home to become a castle.
Aladdin Horror Movie Gives Disney’s Movie A Necessary Twist
Aladdin Never Faced The Consequences Of His Wishes
The Simpsons faced the consequences of big wishes like fame and fortune and world peace, which is what I feel was missing in Disney’s Aladdin. The тιтle character first tricks the Genie to free him from the cave without using a wish, but later, Aladdin officially uses his first wish to become a prince. However, he becomes a prince from a country that didn’t exist before his wish was granted, and there are no consequences for him for pretty much creating a country all of a sudden that he was a prince of.
Aladdin’s second wish is used by the Genie to rescue him from the depths of the sea, and the third and final wish is used by Aladdin to free the Genie. Aladdin never faced the consequences of his first wish, but, of course, Jafar faced those of the wishes he made. Surely, Jafar’s wishes were destructive, but there should have been some consequences for Aladdin’s first wish. The Aladdin horror movie will explore this, and hopefully, it will be scary, fun, and everything will make sense.
Sources: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline (via CBR).
