The teaser trailer for the live-action adaptation of the Disney classic "The Little Mermaid" was finally released, and Halle Bailey stuns everyone with her own rendition of "Part of Your World."
Halle Bailey, the other half of the "Chloe x Halle" duo, was cast as Ariel last 2019, prompting debate among fans about whether the casting choice was right because of her skin color.
The highly-awaited movie promises an equally star-studded cast including Emmy Award Winner Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Tony Award Winner Daveed Diggs playing Scuttle.
'The Little Mermaid' Teaser Trailer
Halle Bailey has everyone swimming in joy online as the teaser trailer for the live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" has debuted at Disney's D23 Expo yesterday.
The trailer, albeit short, showcases the intricate detail that animators have put in to make the underwater scenes look realistic, especially since most of the story will take place in the fictional underwater world of Atlantica.
Snippets of Ariel (Halle Bailey) swimming underwater along with Flounder (Jacob Trembley) were shown, along with other creatures under the sea.
What surprised everyone more was in the latter part of the 80-minute trailer, Bailey sang the last three lines of the iconic song, "Part of Your World," showcasing her vocal prowess.
During the trailer's premiere at the D23 Expo, Variety reported that the audience was taken aback by Bailey's performance while some are "visually emotional" after hearing her fresh take on the classic hit.
"I'm just pinching myself. It feels really kind of [an] out of body [experience]. Seeing myself play a character that I've loved for so long. Just putting my own twist into it. I'm just grateful to be here," Bailey told Variety in an interview.
Halle Bailey 'The Little Mermaid' Casting Controversy
Since her casting in 2019, Bailey met a wide load of racist backlash upon taking on the role of Ariel, who is in the animated film White.
Meanwhile, Bailey, who is an African-American met the receiving end of backlash for her unusual casting. Jodi Benson, who initially voiced Ariel in the animated film, came to Bailey's defense, noting that "the spirit of a character is what really matters" more than the color of the skin. (via The Independent)
Bailey, on the other hand, remains unfazed by the criticism.
"I just feel like this role was something bigger than me, and greater, and it's going to be beautiful and I'm just so excited to be a part of it," she said in an interview.
'The Little Mermaid' release date has yet to be announced by Disney, but it is tentatively slated for a May 2023 premiere.
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