The director of Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid, Rob Marshall, has addressed the racist backlash to Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel. Marshall made it clear that there was no agenda when it came to casting and that Bailey was the perfect woman for the job due to her angelic voice, monumental music career, and outstanding acting skills. Marshall also revealed that the remake will give Prince Eric a personality of his own, with a story arc similar to Ariel’s. The film is set to be released on May 26, 2023.
When the trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of the 1989 classic Little Mermaid was released, the reaction to Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel was intense. Social media was flooded with videos of little girls around the world squealing and jumping for joy at seeing a Disney princess who looked like them. However, there was also an exhausting wave of racist backlash, with some accusing the film studio of hiring Bailey just because of her race. Director Rob Marshall has now addressed the online response, admitting he ‘wasn’t anticipating’ the heart-melting reaction from children.
He also made it clear that there was ‘no agenda’ when it came to casting Ariel, and that they were simply looking for the best actor for the role. Marshall also revealed that the 2023 remake will give Prince Eric a personality of his own, with a story arc similar to Ariel’s. The Little Mermaid will be released in cinemas on May 26, 2023.
