'Aladdin' Star Mena Massoud Hasn't Had 'A Single Audition' Since The Film Came Out!

Mena Massoud is not one jump ahead of the audition line after starring in Disney’s mega-successful live-action blockbuster, Aladdin.

The 28-year-old actor sat down with The Daily Beast to promote his role on the new Hulu series Reprisal, but also took the time to vent about how challenging it’s been for him to get work despite headlining the movie that has so far made the Mouse House a cool $1.5 billion.

Believe it or not, the handsome Egyptian actor hasn’t had “a single audition” since Aladdin came out earlier this year!

He explained:

“I’m kind of tired of staying quiet about it. I want people to know that it’s not always dandelions and roses when you’re doing something like Aladdin. ‘He must have made millions. He must be getting all these offers.’ It’s none of those things. I haven’t had a single audition since Aladdin came out.”

Wait, what!?

Mena landed his roles in Reprisal and the film Run This Town after his casting as the titular hero in Aladdin was reported in 2018, but before the film was released on May 24. Aladdin — which also starred Will Smith as the Genie and Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine — crossed the $1 billion mark by July, and the industry took notice in Massoud in the months since.

Recently, the actor was honored by the SCAD Savannah Film Festival as a Breakout Award honoree alongside Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Jharrel Jerome (When They See Us), and Camila Morrone (Mickey and the Bear).

Despite the accolade, however, the rising star has apparently remained audition-less.

Mena went on to share he isn’t expecting to have any roles handed to him: he’d just really like the opportunity to try out for them!

He stated:

“It’s wild to a lot of people. People have these ideas in their head. It’s like, I’m sitting here being like, okay, Aladdin just hit $1 billion. Can I at least get an audition? Like I’m not expecting you to be like, here’s Batman. But can I just get in the room? Like, can you just give me a chance? So it’s not always what you think.”

When he is fortunate enough to get an audition, the actor said he tends to feel like the “wild card” in the room, noting:

“There’s always a wild card or two when you’re casting. I’m usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might be like, okay, let’s see, like, two guys who aren’t. And maybe they’ll be the wild card choice.”

Ugh. So frustrating!

He continued:

“I feel like I’m going to be overlooked and underestimated for a long time because I am a young actor. I’m an up-and-comer in the sense that I’ve been doing this for 10 years, but to a lot of people, Aladdin‘s the first thing they’ve seen me in. So, I think I’m going to be viewed that way for a long time. I’m going to have to work at chipping away at that.”

Keep at it, Mena!

[Image via FayesVision/WENN]