The Little Mermaid
Disney is set to make a live-action of a cartoon princess movie beloved by many: The Little Mermaid. This movie has an all-star cast of Halle Bailey, Mellissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Awkafina, and Jonah Hauer-King. It’s set to be released on May 26th, 2023. There is much controversy surrounding this movie, starting when its re-making was rumored around 2016 at a time when Disney considered many remakes of its classics – such as Aladdin and The Lion King.
The storm began around June 2019 when Disney cast R&B singer Halle Bailey from Chloe X Halle – a duo with her sister Chloe Bailey. Halle Bailey is a young black woman, and this caused some trouble since the original cartoon, made in 1989, starred a young white girl with bright red hair. This choice was surprising to most and unwelcome to others. Some think the live-action Ariel should resemble the original cartoon, a young white woman with bright red hair instead of a young black woman with ginger hair. This dispute was stirred up again after the trailer was released on September 9th, 2022. The trailer showed Ariel’s beautiful mermaid tail swimming throughout the ocean before revealing Ariel’s actress, Halle Bailey, singing part of the movie’s classic song, “Part of Your World.”
Two main concerns expressed about this movie are the noticeable physical difference between the live-action movie and the original movie: her race and her hair. Many of the trailers’ critics pointed out that Ariel’s hair was gingery brown, which is very different from the original movie’s bright red hair. Another concern was Ariel’s race change, a problem because some believed the live-action should stick to the original movie down to her hair and race. Some went as far as to say this live-action ruined their perception of Ariel and their childhood – even though most saying this are in their mid-twenties or well into their forties.
The critics and concerns over the live-action The Little Mermaid are only part of the trailer’s release; another side is its more wholesome and positive effect. Young black girls now have representation their older counterparts have been yearning for: a black princess other than Tiana from The Princess in the Frog. Many parents and older siblings have been posting little black girls’ reactions to the trailers, showing their excitement about seeing a princess who looks like them. Representation is beautiful, especially for people of color. For many years, they have not had people who look like them in mainstream media, so something huge like a 2nd black Disney princess is important.
Despite all the controversy about Disney’s live-action, The Little Mermaid, it is still a highly anticipated movie event. Though it may be hated by some and loved by others, one thing for sure is that little black girls worldwide will love it.
