How did Halle Bailey get picked for Little Mermaid? (2024)

How did Halle Bailey get picked for Little Mermaid?

Bailey was asked to audition for The Little Mermaid after Marshall saw her at the Grammys, with Chlöe, performing Where Is the Love, in tribute to Donny Hathaway. “I didn't think it would be for Ariel.

How was Halle Bailey selected for Little Mermaid?

So they sent a request for her to audition in New York. When the invitation arrived in her inbox, she assumed it was for the role of one of Ariel's sisters, not the lead. Bailey was the first actress they auditioned for the part. As she shut her eyes and sang “Part of Your World,” Marshall was brought to tears.

Was Halle Berry supposed to be Little Mermaid?

When it was announced that Halle Bailey would be taking on the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, there were some people a little confused and instead were under the impression that it was actually Oscar-winning actress Halle Berrywho had been cast.

How much did Halle Bailey get paid for Little Mermaid?

It's believed that Bailey made about $1.5 million for her role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, but that number could increase depending on how well the film performs opening weekend and beyond.

Why was Scuttle gender swapped?

However, for The Little Mermaid remake, Scuttle is a female northern gannet (voiced by Awkwafina), which is a large white seabird. Changing the gender of the character as well as the species may seem strange, but the creators wanted to feature a bird who could be in underwater scenes.

Did Zendaya audition for The Little Mermaid?

Director Rob Marshall had auditioned the crème de la crème of young Hollywood for the role, and even Zendaya was rumored to have read for the part. But it was movie newcomer Bailey who won the coveted lead.

Who else auditioned for Ursula?

Lizzo showcased her audition for The Little Mermaid's Ursula in a since-privated viral video. She didn't get the part, but she "was down to make Ursula a THOT, shaking ass." The role went to Melissa McCarthy, whom Lizzo met during a taping of Adele's "One Night Only" concert.

How did Halle Bailey get the role of Ariel?

Halle Bailey was the first to audition for the beloved and coveted role of Ariel in Disney's live-action “The Little Mermaid.” After Bailey belted out the classic showstopper “Part of Your World” from the original 1989 film, director Rob Marshall and the other filmmakers knew that she was the one for the role.

Was Halle Bailey underwater in The Little Mermaid?

"So I would be in a harness and wires, basically, suspended in the air, and I would have to simulate the swimming motion." Bailey's mermaid training did eventually take her to the water, though. "I was in the water for about half of filming as well, so it was a mixture of both.

What did Melissa McCarthy get paid for Little Mermaid?

Melissa McCarthy, who played the devious Ursula in the live-action, made $500,000 for her work in the film. Other cast members received more modest salaries for their supporting roles.

Did Halle Bailey dye her hair for Little Mermaid?

“But I really did admire the fact that because I'm a Black woman and I have locs, [the producers] wanted to incorporate that into Ariel's look,” she added. To get the look, Halle Bailey worked with hairstylist Camille Friend to dye her roots red and wrap her locks in the same hued hair.

What is Halle Bailey age?

Why did they make Ariel black?

He says they were looking for the best actor for the role of any ethnicity who could not only sing but convey traits such as strength, passion, beauty, joy and intelligence, which they found in Bailey.

Are Ursula and Triton siblings?

In this novel, Ursula is King Triton's younger sister who was betrayed by him as a child for choosing a tentacled form instead of a mermaid's tail, and grew up as a human in the town of Ipswich with an adoptive human father.

Why were Ariel's sisters names changed?

So, why the change? One theory is that each of Ariel's sisters represents different oceans that are home to various cultures and ethnicities. It's pretty problematic to have mermaids who all look the same representing such an expansive underwater world.

Who tried out for Ariel?

Disney's live-action “The Little Mermaid” had “no agenda” when it came to the casting of Ariel, director Rob Marshall told Entertainment Weekly. The “Chicago” and “Into the Woods” director said his team auditioned “every ethnicity” for the role before landing on singer Halle Bailey.

Is Queen Latifah in The New Little Mermaid?

(MORE: 'Little Mermaid Live': Who will play Ariel, Ursula, Sebastian and more!) Queen Latifah stars alongside actress Auli'i Cravalho who will play Ariel and reggae singer Shaggy who will play Ariel's friend, Sebastian.

Did Disney recast Ariel?

Disney Had The Best Response To The Ariel Casting Backlash

The Little Mermaid casting backlash began as soon as Disney announced the role of Ariel went to Halle Bailey in 2019. While Disney didn't issue a response to the bigoted comments about Bailey's casting at the time, another Disney-owned company did.

How did Melissa McCarthy get the role of Ursula?

The actress was especially drawn to the role of Ursula the sea witch. "I loved her so much. She's such a broad, I just wanted to have a drink with her," McCarthy says. "And yes, she's the villain, but I was like, I think I get her.

Why did they cast Melissa McCarthy as Ursula?

With Ursula's original design inspired by the famous drag queen Divine, McCarthy's experience as a drag queen provides the actor with another key qualifier for the role.

Who else was considered for Ursula in Little Mermaid?

The Ursula we know (and fear) was almost not. Disney worked through several versions of “The Little Mermaid's” antagonist, from trying to cast Bea Arthur, Joan Collins and Broadway star Elaine Stritch to voice the villain to considering her form to a shark.

What is the backlash of The Little Mermaid?

“The Little Mermaid” has bombed with moviegoers in China and South Korea amid racist critiques in some quarters over the casting of Black actress Halle Bailey as main character Ariel. Disney's live-action remake has made only $3.6 million in mainland China since opening there on May 26, according to Box Office Mojo.

What nationality is Ariel from The Little Mermaid?

Why does The Little Mermaid have dreadlocks?

Halle went on to say that she wanted to keep Ariel's red hair because that's an integral part of her character, but that she admired the fact that she is a Black woman with locs and wanted to bring that part of herself to Ariel's look.

What race is Ariel supposed to be?

As Ariel is half fish, she cannot be categorized by our ethnicities and races. The animated “l*ttle Mermaid” movie only portrayed her with light skin and red hair because that was the American interpretation at the time.