Not much is known about Disney's upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, other than its status as the latest project in the company's never-ending mission to remake everything. But one precious piece of confirmed information is the movie's lead role, being played by actress and R&B singer Halle Bailey, and she seems to have already inspired some excitement from eager and creative fans.
Bailey recently shared a piece of artwork from a giddy fan depicting Ariel from Disney's original 1989 animated Little Mermaid film doing that cute little heart hand thing with Bailey's own take on the character drawn in the same style. The drawing of Bailey's Ariel appears to be based on some recently leaked Little Mermaid set photos showing her in the iconic burlap outfit that's apparently making a comeback from the cartoon. As Bailey posted the piece in her Instagram story, she showered it with praise, saying "this instantly made me cry."
The artist, Louie Cruz, specializes in Disney-related artwork, particularly pieces featuring classic Disney princesses in their original styles. As a result, the artwork itself radiates with a fair amount of authenticity, given Cruz's aptitude at recreating the design choices seen in those memorable old films. With both versions of Ariel wearing the same-ish outfit, it helps drive home that this next live-action Disney film is definitely a reality, even if it's approaching at the pace of a sea cucumber.
Bailey herself is well-known as half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, in which she performs with her older sister Chloe Bailey. She also stars alongside her sister in the Freeform series Grown-ish, a spinoff of the popular ABC show Black-ish. Appropriately enough, as an accomplished musical artist herself, she will contribute to the soundtrack for The Little Mermaid as well, providing a nice well-rounded demonstration of her talents. Considering how integral music was to the original movie, it's good that Disney wanted to get someone like Bailey as the lead. The film will also include Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, among several other big names.
Some who've been keeping track of the admittedly slim news surrounding the live-action The Little Mermaid may remember the entirely racist backlash that erupted when Bailey was originally cast as Ariel. It's an unfortunate reality that such things happen, though that doesn't mean it should just be accepted. Bigoted yelling should never influence anything the way it did with Kelly Marie Tran's diminished role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
But luckily, Bailey herself appears to still be in high spirits, and wholesome efforts like the artwork by Cruz are just one of many ways people can fight back against hate in their own manner. Hopefully, once the movie comes out, it becomes clear to everyone that Bailey was the right choice for the part. But even if it doesn't, she's got the right spirit, and that counts for a lot.
The Little Mermaid is currently in production.
Source: Louie Cruz/Instagram