Disney casts 19 year-old Halle Bailey as Ariel in "Little Mermaid."
- Thread starter Mudd
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I've always thought "need" is a very curious term to apply to entertainment. I mean did anyone really "need" a 'Star Wars' before they had one? Did anyone "need" a remake of 'The Thing From Another World' or an adaptation of Stephen King's 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption'? Indeed, did anyone really "need" Hans Christian Andersen to write 'Den Lille Havfrue' to begin with?
Of course not and it's all irrelevant anyway. The only question that matters is: "will it entertain?" For that, we'll just have to wait and see.
Of course not and it's all irrelevant anyway. The only question that matters is: "will it entertain?" For that, we'll just have to wait and see.
At first I read that as "a 19 year-old Halle Berry", and I was like what? Had me do a double-take for sure 
And I see I'm not the only one! 
I thought we'd stepped back in time for a moment.
On Netflix, there's a live-action sequel to the original story. Or at least it seems to be loosely based on the original Hans Chritian Andersen story. Was curious to see how they'd handle live-action mermaids.
My guess Disney is going to digitally remove limbs and replace them with mermaid tails. If anything, they're good at that kind of magic and it should be pretty seamless.
And I see I'm not the only one! I thought we'd stepped back in time for a moment. On Netflix, there's a live-action sequel to the original story. Or at least it seems to be loosely based on the original Hans Chritian Andersen story. Was curious to see how they'd handle live-action mermaids.
My guess Disney is going to digitally remove limbs and replace them with mermaid tails. If anything, they're good at that kind of magic and it should be pretty seamless.
Huh, live action Little Mermaid. I’m curious how they intend to make a crab both photorealistic AND cute.
Btw, I love Brian Wilson's version of Kiss the Girl. Kind of wish they'd use it in the live-action version even if it's just in the credits.
I was surprised by the casting of Ariel, just because the red hair is such a core part of the characters, but I don't have a problem with it. I'm not familiar with Halle Bailey, but so far their casting for most of these has been pretty great so far, so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Aquaman used big green screen crane rigs for their underwater scenes, so I'm assuming they'll probably do something similar here, and I'm assuming the tails will be CGI.
I wonder if they'll go for the photo realistic animals like we got for The Jungle Book and Lion King, or go a bit more cartoony?
Aquaman used big green screen crane rigs for their underwater scenes, so I'm assuming they'll probably do something similar here, and I'm assuming the tails will be CGI.
I wonder if they'll go for the photo realistic animals like we got for The Jungle Book and Lion King, or go a bit more cartoony?
Looking forward to the inevitable cameo by Nemo and Dori.
Er, I'm no expert on the matter, but I think that's a hugely broad assumption. I'm sure that if they chose to, the filmmakers could come up with a (relatively dark) crimson wig or hair dye that in no way reads as "attempting to look Caucasian." Then again, since I doubt they'll want to expose their 19-year-old actress' navel and replicate the cartoon's skimpy shell bikini, they could just as plausibly ditch that iteration's look altogether.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Seriously though, me either which is why I framed it as more of a question than a statement.
I was wondering the same thing. She's over 18, so as far as I know they could have her do a full on nude scene if they wanted to. Obviously, that's not going to happen, but theoretically it could.
Well then, it sounds like you answered your own question. (They already covered up both leads for Aladdin...)
Irrespective of the necessity of CGI underwater, or the actress's natural hair color, but there are examples of people of color with naturally red hair. A good makeup artist should be able to give her such a look, if they intend to go in that direction.
But was that something that the production people from Aladdin did on their own or something that came from the Disney higher ups?
I do agree they'll probably cover Ariel up a bit more than she is in the cartoon, but I doubt her age has anything to do with it. If anything I'd say the age of the target audience probably has more to do with it than Halle Bailey's age.
If anything I'd say there's a pretty good chance we'll see at least her navel, and maybe a teensy bit of cleavage.
These remakes are Disney's most overt expression of the core company brand since the original animated versions of said movies. If you think there's any creative choice on a single one of them that hasn't been vetted to death by the brass, especially where even a hint of sexuality is concerned, you're dreaming.
I've feeling it had more to with making Jasmine less of a Western male harem girl fantasy.These remakes are Disney's most overt expression of the core company brand since the original animated versions of said movies. If you think there's any creative choice on a single one of them that hasn't been vetted to death by the brass, especially where even a hint of sexuality is concerned, you're dreaming.
It's also sexist to have a woman wear sexy clothing in a movie or on tv