Will Smith is among the many international celebrities who have wished their Muslim fans and followers a blessed Ramadan this year. But, that's not all. The American actor shared his Ramadan greetings from the Muslim-majority country Jordan.
The actor made a stop in Jordan on May 13 alongside his fellow stars of the upcoming live-action adaptation of Aladdin, as part of the promotional Magic Carpet World Tour.
Following his visit, Smith - who plays the Genie in the film - took to Instagram to describe Jordan as a "gorgeous country" and offer his two cents on the film industry in the region.
On Tuesday, Smith shared a video that captured him with fellow Aladdin stars Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as well as director Guy Ritchie at the Amman Citadel, with the song "Salam Alikoum" by El 3ou playing in the background.
Massoud, an Egyptian-Canadian actor, plays Aladdin in the film while Scott, a British-Indian actress, scored the role of Princess Jasmine.
"Ramadan Mubarak to all! Thank you to the Royal Family and the people of Jordan for allowing our #Aladdin family to film in your gorgeous country," Smith wrote in the caption.
This comes as parts of the film were shot in Jordan's scenic landscapes including the magical Wadi Rum and the city of Aqaba. The film was supported by the Royal Film Commission Jordan (RFC) and employed 150 members of the commission.
Under another video, which included snippets from the team's visit to Jordan, Smith wrote that the Middle East's "cinema business is still young and growing," thanking Jordanian hosts for taking "beautiful care" of the crew while they were shooting in the country.
Jordan marked the fourth stop of the Magic Carpet World Tour after Paris, London, and Berlin.
As part of the tour, a VIP screening of the film took place at Abdali Mall Prime Cinema under Royal Patronage and was hosted by Prince Ali bin Al Hussein. The stars also participated in a press conference organized by Jordan's RFC.
"Jordan did not only provide the amazing landscape needed for such a beautiful story, but also all the support needed to make it a success," said Princess Rym Ali, managing director by interim of the RFC in Jordan, in a statement.
The live-action remake is set to be released in Jordan on May 23. Theaters in the United States will screen the film starting May 24.
Here's the trailer of the film in case you haven't seen it yet:
Producers of the musical fantasy, which recreates Disney's 1992 film, consulted with regional experts to "ensure a more inclusive representation of the Middle East and the broader region," according to Gulf News.
The Dubai-based media outlet noted that Smith insisted on adequately achieving that goal, quoting him as saying:
"For me, when I came into it, that was one of things I was concerned about in my first meeting with Guy. It had to be a love letter to the region ... Guy was absolutely of the same mind."
