The Little Mermaid was the movie that kicked off the era known as the Disney Renaissance in animation, so expectations are high for the upcoming live-action remake. The decision to cast Halle Bailey in the lead certainly got people’s attention, though not necessarily in the best ways. However, at this point, it doesn’t look like anything could upset Bailey as the experience of becoming Ariel is clearly having an emotional impact on her.
While there was the unfortunately if not unexpected, racist backlash to the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid, a lot of people truly embraced the decision and even just seeing The Little Mermaid trailer had a profound impact on a lot of little girls who were perhaps seeing themselves in a Disney Princess for the first time. Now, you can buy dolls of Bailey’s version of Ariel and even the actress herself can’t believe it.
