There’s a new Little Mermaid under the sea and she’s dripping in Black Girl Magic. Disney just announced that R&B singer and actress Halle Bailey has been cast to play Ariel in their upcoming live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”
The film’s director, Rob Marshall, shared that although casting has gone on for quite some time, Bailey was always in the forefront.
“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,” Marshall said in a statement.
Halle and her sister Chloe became known for their YouTube covers of Beyonce. The pair officially formed their group, Chloe x Halle in 2015 and eventually signed a record deal with Parkwood Entertainment after being discovered online.
With Bailey’s mentor roster, her natural talent and her experience as Sky in Freeform’s Grown-ish, it is clear why she was the best person for the role.
Now kids (and kids at heart) will get to experience a new Ariel, and we can’t wait!