Disney’s animated movie Aladdin was released in 1992 and originally the main character was supposed to be designed taking actor Michael J. Fox as a reference. Aladdin was mean to be thirteen but later in the production the creators wanted a more mature character and then Michael J. Fox was decided to be too boyish.

Then Tom Cruise was chosen. And specifically his character from Top Gun, as suggested by the then-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Jeffrey Katzenberg.