Fans visiting the D23 Disney and Pixar display today were in for a big treat. They saw previews of highly anticipated movies like Hocus Pocus 2 and Haunted Mansion, as well as brand new trailers for forthcoming horror, flicks like Strange World and Elio. However, the forthcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid is something that many people have been anticipating. The casting of Halle Bailey caused a flurry of excitement on the web.
The young Black actor playing Ariel was welcomed warmly by the audience, but as always, there was a small but vocal minority determined to send a message of hate. However, if there were any people who actually questioned Bailey’s ability to portray the underwater princess, then it’s time to put your worries at ease. Bailey is no stranger to the stage, and he’s also a seasoned musician who’s won a Grammy. After Disney published the first look at The Little Mermaid, which included an extended clip of Ariel singing “Part of Your World,” Bailey made an appearance on stage at D23 to promote the film. Bailey shared her anticipation for the movie’s worldwide release, explaining that she sees herself in Ariel, a girl who has been uprooted and longs for a better life. The footage itself took three days to film and definitely contains computer graphics because Bailey is underwater. In terms of design, it’s impossible not to think of the animated movie from 1989.
Ariel’s small cove filled with human artefacts appears like her own little museum of antiquities. You can hear Bailey’s performance, which is soft and childlike, in the D23 teaser video. The outfit Bailey is wearing is reminiscent of the one Ariel wears in the Disney animated film, with the exception that it is considerably more iridescent and does not have a purple shell bra and a green tail. The fin at the end of her tail looks almost like a pair of fairy wings as it shimmers with various shades of blue, purple, and green as she flicks it through the water. Bailey successfully pulls off the look, despite the inherent strangeness of moving hair underwater (looking at you, Aquaman).
After all, Ariel’s full and flawless locks are instantly recognisable from The Little Mermaid. She appears to be wearing her hair in locks or a braided style that is between pink and salmon. Her portrayal is superb, mimicking Ariel’s yearning to be a part of the people. The song itself is a song of longing, and Bailey captures that perfectly, often in an underwater performance that looks to be a duplicate of the cartoon frame for frame. The only drawback of the clip is Flounder. Voiced by Luca actor Jacob Tremblay, it’s a bit odd to witness a realistic-looking Flounder. He’s a tiny fish, like something out of a National Geographic film, rather than the plump, sunny yellow sidekick we’re used to.
Since fish don’t usually elicit squeals of delight and real flounders aren’t exactly the picture of beauty, it would appear that this is the best they could do. Despite being voiced by actors with distinct voices and lots of charisma, the film fails to give audiences a reason to root for memorable characters like Scuttle (Awkwafina) and Sebastian (Daveed Diggs). It remains to be seen how well the rest of the picture does. Halle Bailey is a wonderful Ariel, and we can’t wait to be a part of her world whenever it premieres. There is currently a release date of May 26, 2023, for The Little Mermaid.