Peter Pan & Wendy, a live-action reimagining of the 1953 animated classic, will be landing on Disney+ later this year.
Following the latest adaptation of the J.M. Barrie novel being confirmed, the stars of the upcoming movie have been sharing sneak peeks on social media - including the actress who will making history as the first person of colour to play Tinkerbell.
Yara Shahidi, 23, delighted fans on Tuesday night as she took to Instagram to share a snap of herself in full Tinkerbell costume - including wings - and confirming her role in the new movie.
The Grown-ish actress captioned the teaser: "pixie dust loading … #PeterPanandWendy."
Fans and celebrity pals were quick to comment on the exciting update from Yara, with Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey gushing: "love !"
One of the star's follower's noted how her post came as Black History Month came to an end on Tuesday, writing: "And that my people is how you end black history month! Yara you continue to make us proud academically and on the screen whatever you do you do with grace I love you."
"My pretty pretty Tinkerbell! I love this for USSSSSSSSSSSS," another added, as a third quipped: "You’ve always been filled with magic."
One of Yara's fans anticipated the potential backlash over a Black woman playing a fictional cartoon fairy, commenting: "Oh sh**! America is going to fall apart again."
According to the promotional information shared on the Walt Disney website on Tuesday, Peter Pan & Wendy introduces Wendy Darling, a young girl afraid to leave her childhood home behind, who meets Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up.
Alongside her brothers and a tiny fairy, Tinker Bell, she travels with Peter to the magical world of Neverland. There, Wendy encounters an evil pirate captain, Captain Hook, and embarks on a thrilling and dangerous adventure that will change her life forever.
Tinkerbell actress Yara will star alongside Jude Law, Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, Joshua Pickering, Jacobi Jupe, Molly Parker, Alan Tudyk, and Jim Gaffigan.
Peter Pan & Wendy is directed by David Lowery from a screenplay by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks, based on the novel by Barrie and the animated film Peter Pan. Jim Whitaker is the producer, with Adam Borba, Thomas M. Hammel, and Halbrooks serving as executive producers.
"In making Peter Pan & Wendy, we set out to craft a film that honors both the original J.M. Barrie text and Walt Disney’s animated adaptation; we wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart, and a grand yearning for adventure,” Lowery says.
"Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen; I’m excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride, and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective."
As the trailer prompted some racist criticism online on Tuesday, Disney fans hit back and showed their support for the latest cast of a Peter Pan production.
"peter pan is now a dark haired boy of color and the gingercide screamers are no where in sight, they’re moving their frustration to tinkerbell which just proves that y’all don’t care when it’s non-black poc being cast in white roles. it’s black ppl cast in them that makes you mad," one mused on Twitter.
Another added: "We’re gonna have grown ass men whining about the race of a fairy and pretending they’re Peter Pan stans for like 2 weeks."
Writer Will Black tweeted: "Looking forward to white supremacists losing their s*** about Tinkerbell* in the new Peter Pan film
"Just like when they lost it about the diversity in Worzel Gummidge, a show about a scarecrow who comes to life and somehow digests cake* I DO believe in fairies!"
Peter Pan & Wendy will begin streaming on April 28, 2023, exclusively on Disney+.
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