Anyone who spends a lot of time on the internet knows that the racists are back.
With the recent release of a trailer for the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey, people who have never had any interest in Disney films before in their lives were suddenly enthralled. The official trailer received over one million dislikes on YouTube after it was released. Bailey's face was replaced with a white woman's in the trailer by some people.
In response to the online venom, film enthusiasts and Disney devotees alike laughed at the idea that the movie's title character had to be played by a white actress. Many people pointed out that the film is about a fantasy character who is not related to race. The cascade of videos featuring little Black girls reacting to seeing themselves in their favorite Disney princess is proof that representation is important in entertainment.
Many fans brought up other aspects of the story that they hoped would be addressed in the film. In the spirit of discussing interesting elements of story telling, here are some online reviews and explorations of The Little Mermaid that matter.
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There aren't a lot of options for fans to think about with the short trailer. The color scheme immediately caught the eye of viewers who were aesthetically minded.
Several people pointed out that the underwater scene in the preview is a bit gloomy. The lighting is very cool and blue-toned, but it doesn't match up with how bright Disney animated films are. Both support and discussion took place after this. The live-action adaptation of an ocean scene is holding true to what it might actually look like, according to Defenders of the color scheme. Bailey sings a song called "Part of Your World" that is sad and longing for a world above the water in order to match the story of that moment.
Disney's quest for hyperrealism took away from the magic of the story in the live-action remake of The Lion King. While realism is a sensible pursuit in a live-action fairy tale, Ariel's fans are hoping it won't take away from the charm of the mermaid's saga.
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Ursula is arguably the most important character in the film because of her campy, over-the-top nature. Fans of the sea witch imagined a number of actors for her, including Ginger Minj, Lizzo, and Lady Gaga. Disney decided to go with... McCarthy.
McCarthy could give a great performance in the role. Many wanted to see a nod to the drag community in the modern casting of Ursula's creation. The cartoon Ursula's appearance was based on Divine. Despite her death, Divine would have been happy to have the chance to voice Ursula.
Fans were hoping for a drag queen to take on Ursula in real life. While most don't think it will detract from Ursula to be played by a cis gender actress, leaning into the original inspiration would have meant a lot more. However, internet sleuths have also discovered that McCarthy herself has performed in drag before, going by the name Miss Y. With her involvement in the nightlife and drag community in the 1990s, fans are slightly more confident that theactress will pay homage to the character's roots in the adaptation
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The Little Mermaid might not be about a little girl at all, according to the historians.
The original fairy tale was written by Hans Christian Andersen in the 19th century as a love letter for a man named Edvard Collin. Andersen wrote the story to show his desire for a world that would accept him, and historians think he was bisexual. The ending of Andersen's story seems to reflect his own romantic interests, as in the case of the princess who dissolved into sea foam.
Fans are pointing to the source material to show that Disney's version doesn't mean the same things as the original. If you don't mind that a story of gay desire isn't included in the remake in order to be accurate, then maybe there isn't much you can do about it.
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The praise for Bailey's voice was one of the highlights of the trailer. An attendee at D23 leaked a longer version of the song from "Part of Your World" to the public. Bailey performs some amazing vocal acrobatics that make the classic song "Ariel's Own" come to life.
Bailey's vocal talents clearly demonstrate her perfect fit for the role, but others wonder if she can make up for a lack of acting experience. Although Bailey has long been on Grown-ish, she doesn't have many movie credits and is mostly known for her musical talents. Internet fans continue to debate whether a singing voice in a musical movie is more important than acting credentials, with many drawing back to an inverse comparison with Emma watson in the live-action Beauty and the Beast While no one doubts Bailey's vocal abilities, the movie will give her a chance to show off her acting chops and help settle the debate on the importance of singer vs actress in musical movies
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