This won’t be a very popular opinion, but I’ve never liked Ariel or her movie. Not to be a purist, but even as a little girl (whose first Disney VHS movie was actually The Little Mermaid) I always thought that Hans Christian Andersen’s tale was much more fascinating than the story Disney came up with (and I’m a super Disney fan!). Why? I always thought Ariel was just a spoiled brat whose “dream” was stupid and could put her whole family and people at risk. I get it, she lived under very strict rules, but they actually made a lot of sense if you think about it.
Now, with Disney’s stubbornness to make new versions of all their classics, it was just a matter of time before the company set their minds on this classic. Though I wasn’t very happy with some of the ones that have been made in the last few years (nor the ones that are coming), I do think The Little Mermaid could use a little bit retelling to make it more interesting and less simplistic, and as we’ve known for the past couple of years the live-action is soon to be released.
Despite the stupid racist hate the cast, especially Halle Bailey who’s playing Ariel, has received, the movie is finally done filming. Bailey, shared the very first image of how this new and fresh Ariel will look like on her IG account and also took some time to reflect on the journey this character has been. She was just 18 when the project began and finally after more than two years, the film is ready to go into the post-production process.
“I feel so grateful to have experienced this film in all of its glory… it has been the toughest experience being away from everything and everyone I’ve known, to feeling self-doubt/ loneliness, but also feeling such a freedom and perseverance as I’ve reached the end. This experience has made me so much stronger than I ever thought I could be.”
Halle Bailey is best known for being one of the members of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, a band encouraged and promoted by none other than the great Beyoncé. She’s also had some experience in acting having appeared in several movies and the hit show, Grown-ish. Accompanying her in this Disney fantasy is a unique cast including Melissa McCarthy (Ursula), Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric), Javier Bardem (King Triton), Jacob Tremblay (Flounder), Daveed Diggs (Sebastian), and Awkwafina (Scuttle).
The movie will count with the amazing participation of Lin Manuel Miranda working on the music of the movie which will also include some of the movie song hits created by Disney’s legendary musician, Alan Menken. The movie was set to be released this past 2020; however, the coronavirus pandemic delayed the production so there’s no official release date yet, though it won’t be featured any time this year.
Though many people have questioned the casting, I must say seeing Disney diversifying is kind of exciting and that the selection could actually give this simpleton character new, interesting depths. The fact that most Disney princesses are white is worrying, and choices like these, that purists are calling forced by purists, can actually make a change in how we are all represented in mass media.
So, let’s just hope they bring their all to the game and make of this classic and beloved character one really worthy of admiration.
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