The Little Mermaid Star Halle Bailey Speaks Out on Cultural Impact of Playing Ariel

By Jenna Anderson

The live-action take on The Little Mermaid has become a cultural phenomenon even before its debut, with its trailers and musical numbers captivating the hearts of many. One of the most buzzed-about parts of the film is the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, making her the first Black actress to take on the iconic role. While speaking to Deadline at The Little Mermaid's premiere, Bailey reflected on the experience of getting to inspire a whole new generation of fans with her Ariel.

"This moment means everything to me," Bailey revealed. "I'm so grateful to be here. I just feel really honored, and I'm happy the day has finally come where we can all watch it."

"It means the world to me, this moment," Bailey continued. "Especially for the beautiful babies to be able to see a reflection of themselves. I am just honored to be a part of this, and be one of the princesses now. Because for me, it was Brandi as Cinderella, and Anika Rose as Princess Tiana. So the fact that I'm getting to continue this and live on this kind of legacy is really exciting, and I'm just grateful."

What is The Little Mermaid remake about?

The Little Mermaid will follow Ariel, the youngest daughter of the kingdom Atlantica's ruler King Triton, who is fascinated with the human world but mermaids are forbidden to explore it. After saving Prince Eric from a shipwreck and falling in love with, she becomes determined to be with him in the world above water. These actions lead to a confrontation with her father and an encounter with the conniving sea witch Ursula, making a deal with her to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress Eric. However, this ultimately places her life (and her father's crown) in jeopardy.

The film will be directed by Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns), with a script from David Magee and Jane Goldman. The cast also includes Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy. The film is expected to feature original songs from the 1989 animated blockbuster, as well as new tracks composed by Alan Menken and Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Are you excited for the live-action The Little Mermaid? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

The Little Mermaid is set to be released in theaters on May 26th.

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