Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid
Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

US singer Halle Bailey cast as Ariel in Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid

This article is more than 4 years old

Director says 19-year-old has ‘spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance – plus a glorious singing voice’

Singer Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in Disney’s live action reimagining of The Little Mermaid.

The 19-year-old – who is in musical duo Chloe X Halle with her sister Chloe – was cast after an “extensive search”.

She said on Twitter that it was a “dream come true”.

dream come true... 🧜🏽‍♀️🌊 pic.twitter.com/sndjYUS6wO

— chloe x halle (@chloexhalle) July 3, 2019

The film is being directed by Rob Marshall, who said: “After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance - plus a glorious singing voice - all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role.”

News of the casting was praised on Twitter, with many people remarking on the significance of a young black woman taking on the role.

Halle Bailey, a Black teens who wears locs, being cast as a Disney princess is what dreams are made of. Imagine what just seeing her onscreen will do for this generation of Black girls.

— Evette Dionne 🏁 (@freeblackgirl) July 3, 2019

Brandy walked so Halle Bailey could swim. pic.twitter.com/FGuwAzAHUT

— Kevin Fallon (@kpfallon) July 3, 2019

I look forward to taking my daughter to see Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live action version of Little Mermaid. She'll be ecstatic seeing another girl of color as a Disney princess. I will have to tolerate the songs, but...worth it.

— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) July 3, 2019

Marshall will also produce with John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The film will feature songs from the 1989 animated classic by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as new songs by Menken and Miranda.

Production on The Little Mermaid is expected to begin in early 2020.

Most viewed

Most viewed