10 More Actors Tricked Into Appearing In Movies
7. Robin Williams Was Promised Minimal Marketing Presence - Aladdin
Disney did the late, great Robin Williams incredibly dirty on Aladdin.
Williams agreed to voice the Genie for just $75,000 - a mere fraction of his usual $8 million asking price - on the condition that neither his name nor his image be used in marketing, and Genie not take up more than 25% of the space on any advertising materials.
The reason for this request? Williams had another film, Toys, set to release just a month after Aladdin, and didn't want Aladdin sucking all the oxygen out of the room by focusing on his presence.
Disney initially agreed but ultimately reneged on most of the terms, aside from keeping Williams' name out of the promotional cycle. Genie had a more prominent marketing presence than agreed and was even used to market toys and fast food tie-ins, all without paying Williams any extra money.
Williams felt that Disney had tricked him and famously said of the Mouse House, "The only reason Mickey Mouse has three fingers is because he can't pick up a check."
Disney ultimately blamed the situation on a separate marketing firm, and sent the actor a Picasso painting worth over $1 million in an attempt to smooth things over, though it didn't much help.
As a result, Williams refused to return for sequel The Return of Jafar, and only agreed to lend his voice to the third film, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, after Disney issued a public apology.