Directors and writers Ron Clements and John Musker eventually disregarded Woolverton's script in

favor of developing something more similar to Ashman's version, albeit making several changes to
his treatment, among them approaching the character of Jasmine "a little differently,"[6] while
maintaining Woolverton's vision of "a princess that Aladdin could woo."[8] Following the elimination
of Aladdin's mother from the script, Jasmine and Aladdin's relationship was expanded upon to the
point of which it became a focal point of the film,[6] ultimately allowing more screen time for the
princess.[9] Thus, Jasmine was developed into a more prominent character.[10] Unlike Disney's
previous adaptations of fairy tales, the princess is not the film's main character, and therefore the
story does not revolve around her.[7] Despite the presence of a prominent princess character, the
directors decided to treat Aladdin more-so like "an Arabian adventure" as opposed to a traditional
Disney fairy tale or princess film in the vein of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) or Beauty
and the Beast.[11] The decision to make Aladdin a high comedy ultimately eliminated the need to
explore some of Jasmine's deeper storylines.[12]

Although several details of the original folk tale were altered for the film adaptation, Jasmine's main
storyline – being pressured into marriage – remained mostly untouched.[7] However, while
Badroulbadour initially resents Aladdin, Jasmine on the other hand is almost immediately charmed
by him.[5] Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio rewrote Jasmine into a "stronger" character
who actively longs for freedom from her "regal confinement."[13] According to Dave Smith of the
Disney Archives, the "liberated" Jasmine primarily "seeks to escape her present lifestyle."[14] The
idea of a disguised Jasmine stowing away from her palace in the middle of the night was inspired by
the romantic comedy film Roman Holiday (1953), in which Princess Ann, portrayed by actress Audrey
Hepburn,[15] similarly escapes the royal embassy in disguise in order to spend one day exploring
Rome on her own.[7]

Voice

The casting of American actor and comedian Robin Williams as the Genie inspired the studio to
recruit similarly talented voice actors capable of matching his pace.[16] The filmmakers had
originally envisioned Jasmine's voice as similar to that of actress Lauren Bacall.[17] Jasmine's
speaking voice is provided by American actress Linda Larkin.[18] The role was only one of several
auditions Larkin had scheduled during the same week in which she auditioned for Aladdin, and she
originally underestimated the scope of the project, joking, "I thought it was going to be something
like DuckTales (sic)."[17] Initially presented with only a few pages of the screenplay,[17] Larkin found
that she was particularly drawn to Jasmine's "spirit of activism," in addition to the ways in which
character was both similar to and different from previous Disney heroines.[19] Princesses Snow
White, Cinderella, and Aurora had been childhood favorites of the actress.[18][20] Larkin's first
audition was held in a Burbank, California recording studio, in which she performed solely for the
film's casting director.[19] The side used for Larkin's first audition was the scene in which Jasmine
meets Aladdin in the marketplace – their first encounter.[10] Jasmine's line 'It's all so magical'
helped convince Larkin that she was "meant" to voice the character.[18] Although Larkin's voice was
significantly different from what the filmmakers had originally envisioned for the character, her
interpretation gradually changed their minds.[17]