The merchant at the beginning was the genie after he was freed.
Look at both characters: Blue clothes? Check. Red band around the waist? Check. Bushy eyebrows and a beard ending in a curl? Double check. If that’s not enough for you, how about the fact that they are the only two characters in the movie who only have four fingers? Oh, and they both just happen to be voiced by Robin Williams.
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And the co-director confirmed this fan theory a few months ago. Apparently they were going to reveal it at the end of the movie, but that scene got cut in the end.
Look at both characters: Blue clothes? Check. Red band around the waist? Check. Bushy eyebrows and a beard ending in a curl? Double check. If that’s not enough for you, how about the fact that they are the only two characters in the movie who only have four fingers? Oh, and they both just happen to be voiced by Robin Williams.
.
And the co-director confirmed this fan theory a few months ago. Apparently they were going to reveal it at the end of the movie, but that scene got cut in the end.