Disney casts black Ariel in live-action Little Mermaid
(Above) Halle Bailey. PHOTO: DISNEY
(Above) Ariel from The Little Mermaid is traditionally seen as having red hair and pale skin. PHOTO: DISNEY
LOS ANGELES : R&B singer Halle Bailey is set to play Ariel in a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, she said, in a rare casting of a black actress as a Disney princess.
Bailey, 19, who rose to fame under the wing of pop queen Beyonce, said on Wednesday it was a "dream come true" to play the lead role.
She tweeted a cartoon image of the princess in which the traditionally red-headed Ariel has dark skin, brown eyes and black hair.
Director Rob Marshall said Bailey had been cast after an extensive search, and praised her "rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance - plus a glorious singing voice".
News of the casting was trending on Twitter, with many fans overjoyed by the decision.
Like most Disney princesses, Ariel has been portrayed as pale-skinned in previous cartoon films.
Lion King sends animation roaring forward
Movie review: The Lion King has stunning visuals but lacks soul
Swing through Spider-Man's home borough Queens
Tolkien presents early life of Lord Of The Rings writer
Disney came under criticism last year for "whitewashing" Princess Tiana in cartoon movie Ralph Breaks the Internet, hastily redrawing the character with darker features just months before the film's release.
Bailey's casting comes more than two decades after Disney cast singer Brandy, who is also black, as Cinderella in a live-action 1997 film.
Bailey is part of Atlanta-based sister duo Chloe x Halle, who received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist last year.
Beyonce became a mentor of sorts to them after seeing the pair cover her song Pretty Hurts in 2013. They were signed to her label soon after, and Beyonce took them on her tour in 2016.
Former first lady Michelle Obama is also a fan of the duo, turned on to their music by daughters Sasha and Malia.
The Little Mermaid will be the latest in a crop of live-action remakes of classic Disney movies. Filming is slated to begin next year. - AFP