Back in March, Disney received international praise after announcing that Aladdin - a Disney animation based on a Middle Eastern folk tale - will be made into a live-action film featuring a full Middle Eastern cast.
Except ... four months later, the entertainment conglomerate has not yet finalized the lead roles, saying that the decision-making process has not been easy.
"But, finding a male lead in his 20s who can act and sing has proven difficult — especially since the studio wants someone of Middle-Eastern or Indian descent," wrote Rebecca Ford in the Hollywood Reporter.
According to the writer, around 2,000 actors and actresses have "read for the lead roles of Jasmine and Aladdin," after bringing on casting directors from around the world - from Egypt to Abu Dhabi.
Except ... there is an array of Middle Eastern actors to choose from. And people on social media are proving to Disney why it isn't as hard as it is making it out to be.
Disney's actual definition of "struggling to find leads for Aladdin" ...
Need a terrorist? Casting Middle Eastern actors is a piece of cake. Need someone to play Aladdin? It's just too hard.
An example of this very fact is the story of writer, actor and film-maker, Amrou Al Kadhi.
The British-Iraqi is only 26, but he's been asked to play a terrorist on screen some 30 times, he wrote in an op-ed published in The Independent in February.
Arab actors in the U.S. include people like Rami Malek, Amrou al Kadhi, the list goes on and on ...
Muslim blogger Taz Ahmed has volunteered her services if Disney really needs help
Others even sent their very own audition tapes. You won't be able to keep a straight face.
Saudi comedian Hisham Fageeh even sent one ... to play the role of Jafar.
Hilarity ensued with questions like: "Can I be the carpet?"
Actor Khleo Thomas said he would "enjoy just being able to audition for Jafar."
Others even recommended Hasan Minhaj to take part.
Whitewashing in Hollywood has been an ongoing debate for years. The film industry has no trouble finding Middle Eastern actors when the role involves a terrorist. But, when it comes to the genuine depiction of Middle Eastern characters, the available choices never seem to be good enough.
Earlier in July, the director of the live-action feature film - Guy Ritchie - announced that they will be casting Indian actors for the lead roles in the film. This came soon after news that Tom Hardy was being considered for the role of Jafar received backlash on social media.
Although the call for Indian leads toned down the international backlash, a lot of Arabs responded with frustration.
Will Aladdin end up being whitewashed ... just like Gods of Egypt?