A lot of people on the internet are savages, and when it was announced that R&B singer Halle Bailey – a woman of color – would star as Ariel for Disney's live-action version of THE LITTLE MERMAID, trolls arrived in droves to punch down on what was assuredly a momentous announcement.
Here's the thing though, as a woman with too much dignity for that noise, Bailey recently made it abundantly clear to Variety that she ain't got time for that.
"I feel like I'm dreaming and I'm just grateful and I don't pay attention to the negativity," Bailey told the entertainment outlet. "I just feel like, you know, this role is something bigger than me, and greater, and it's gonna be beautiful. I'm just so excited to be a part of it, and, yeah."
Right on, Bailey! Don't let the insecure minority get you down. After all, lest people forget, Ariel is a fictional character, and a mermaid at that. Furthermore, film as an entertainment medium affords us the opportunity to tell magnificent stories, which includes presenting alternative interpretations of classic material.
Loosely based on the Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, director Rob Marshall's live-action version will include beloved songs from directors Ron Clements and John Musker's 1989 original animation as well as new jams from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda that are bound to send waves rippling through the Disney musical community. Meanwhile, David Magee will pen the script with Jessica Virtue and Allison Erlikhman overseeing for Disney.
For the moment, Bailey is the only confirmed cast member for THE LITTLE MERMAID, though previous reports have indicated that Disney is looking for Melissa McCarthy to play the villainous Ursula, the sea witch whome Ariel makes a Faustian bargain with for the chance to walk upon the surface while in search of true love. It's also been reported that the House of Mouse has their eye on Harry Styles for the role of Prince Eric, with Javier Bardem being courted for the part of King Triton.