In the early 2000s, Disney missed a great opportunity to advance inclusion and bring to the screen, as planned, the musical Aida, winner of several Tonys and a mega success on Broadway. With a princess of color, an interracial love story would be an important addition. However, the project remains classified as “in development”, even though the latest news has placed none other than Beyoncé as the name who would lead the cast. How is Aida?

After the phenomenon that Lion King proved to be, in cinemas and on stage, it seemed obvious to continue with Elton John and Tim Rice taking care of the musical side of the studio’s projects. The animation of Simba’s story mirrored the legend of Hamlet, something that would never be thought of as “childish”. But it more than worked. And still staying on the African continent, the theme that the duo suggested was to adapt – for Broadway, not for cinema – one of the best-known operas in the world, Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi, which had everything: love, revenge, politics, and exoticism. The idea was, that if it worked, it would then become an animation.

Although Hamlet is inspired by a real legend, this was not the case in Verdi’s opera. The Egyptian theme was chosen solely with an eye on the grandeur of the settings, so there was no specific enslaved Ethiopian princess that we have historical knowledge of. In general, the opera is performed by white artists, and in the musical, this was the case with the cast of the Egyptian part. Today it would be impossible to maintain the original trio, but it is still a character that could be a reference if revised and updated. Not to mention the cool soundtrack that we are “missing”.

It may be that it is precisely the delicate controversy of the whole story that has stopped Aída behind the scenes today. As it is based on the story created by Antonio Ghislanzoni in 1870, there are sensitive themes that would never be treated today as they were more than 150 years ago. The plot revolves around the Egyptian invasion and rule in Ethiopia. Among the enslaved is Aída, a princess, who hides her position in order to survive. She is “presented” to the daughter of Pharaoh Radames, Amneris, who is engaged to the Egyptian military commander, Radames. The problem is that Aída and Radamés fall in love and their impossible love tests their strength and loyalty to their people. Unrequitedly in love with Radames, Amneris takes cruel revenge on her lover when she ascends the throne.

The musical ran for four years and was chosen by Time magazine as one of the ten best theatrical productions of the year. I saw it in New York, it was sensational. They “humanized” Amneris as a futile but fun woman. The fashion show sequence in My Strongest Suit is spectacular. The love song between Aída and Radamés, Written in the Stars, was a hit on the radio, it was so certain that it would be a winning production! But, 23 years, not yet.

Clearly, the plot wasn’t childish enough to justify a cartoon, but no one disagrees with the power of a live-action format. In particular, because Aída is an incredible character, a political leader of the resistance, experiencing what many African women faced during the terrible period of slavery and the complex of falling in love with an enemy man. Maybe it’s a good thing it wasn’t done 20 years ago, but I think it would be a good time now. Will it happen one day?

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