Halle Bailey, the actress set to play Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, recently shared her perspective on the character in an interview with Edition Magazine.
Bailey emphasized that her version of Ariel will be more “nuanced” than the original and that the character will be less focused on leaving the ocean for a man.
“I’m really excited for my version of the film because we’ve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy. It’s way bigger than that. It’s about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants.”
Bailey explained that her version of Ariel will be about “herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants.” She also noted that the updated themes in the film would reflect the independence and modernity of women. “As women, we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above. And I’m glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.”
Bailey’s comments align with the film’s director, Rob Marshall, who previously spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the project. Marshall emphasized the importance of portraying Ariel’s “passion” and the “epic” nature of her journey to find her true self.
He also noted that the film would feature a “strange combination of uprightness and wisdom, and a great deal of soul and heart,” making it a modern take on the classic story. Marshall also explained that the film would maintain the rule that a wall separates the human and ocean worlds.
The audience doesn’t seem that excited about The Little Mermaid live action version
The upcoming release of The Little Mermaid has generated significant anticipation, with most fans not eager to see particular because of the casting choice of Ariel. The casting of the 22-year-old actor in The Little Mermaid prompted racist trolling, with the first teaser receiving over 3 million dislikes and the latest trailer currently having 1.3 million dislikes on YouTube.
Bailey expressed her shock at the world’s negative reaction and was emotional about the positive response from brown and Black young girls. She feels honored and grateful to be in this position and sometimes has to pinch herself to believe it’s real.
