Disney Casts R&B Singer Halle Bailey as Ariel in Stay-Motion Little Mermaid
Leon Bennett/Getty Photos for Essence
Halle Bailey is able to go “Beneath the Sea.”
The Chloe x Halle member is formally a part of Disney’s world as a result of she’s been tapped to play the coveted position of Ariel within the Little Mermaid live-action movie. That is proper, she’s going to play the enduring Disney princess, which is being directed by Rob Marshall and produced by the 58-year-old, John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“After an intensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that uncommon mixture of spirit, coronary heart, youth, innocence, and substance—plus an excellent singing voice—all intrinsic qualities essential to play this iconic position,” the director stated in a press assertion shared with E! Information.
“dream come true…,” the R&B duo shared on Twitter, alongside an animated photograph of a re-imagined Ariel that appears just like the brunette magnificence.
Notably, Zendaya, who was rumored to play the Disney princess, congratulated the singer on Twitter. “Yeeeeessss!! Right here for thiiiissss,” she wrote.
Bailey joins Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, who’re rumored to play Ariel’s side-kicks, Flounder and Scuttle. Melissa McCarthy can also be in talks to seem within the live-action movie as Ursula.
dream come true… 🧜🏽♀️🌊 pic.twitter.com/sndjYUS6wO
— chloe x halle (@chloexhalle) July three, 2019
Nonetheless, Disney has been tight-lipped in regards to the well-known villain position. After the 48-year-old comic made headlines for being hooked up to the challenge, Lizzo appeared heartbroken over the information.
She tweeted a number of unhappy faces in regards to the announcement. Final yr, the “Good as Hell” singer felt she was born to play the Disney villain. “I’M URSULA. PERIOD.,” she shared, alongside a video of her dressed because the Sea Witch and belting out the animated film’s tunes.
Whereas nothing is about in stone, in accordance with the studio’s press launch, “further bulletins concerning The Little Mermaid are anticipated within the coming weeks.”
Together with the three actors hooked up to the challenge, one factor is for certain: the movie will even characteristic beloved songs from the animated film by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. There will even be new songs by the 2, with Miranda writing the lyrics and Menken engaged on the music side.
Manufacturing is set to start in early 2020.
Do not miss E! Information each weeknight at 7, solely on E!