In an interview withVariety, Disney’s brand-new princess,Halle Bailey, star of the highly-anticipated live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid, discusses her exciting role in depth. From childhood inspiration to her finely honed Disney princess vocal skills as one half of the sister duoChloe x Halle, Bailey dives into her experience filming for this underwater classic. The interview reveals some exciting new information on the upcoming film that fans have eagerly been waiting for!
So much has been kept quiet on the production of Disney’s 2023 release for the live-action remake ofThe Little Mermaid. In her recent interview, it’s clear that Bailey is living out a dream come true for not only so many children, but for herself, as a coveted Disney princess. Like her mermaid counterpart Ariel, Bailey shared a sense of longing, as she dreamt of becoming a part of the undersea world when she was younger. “Her sense of longing, her searching for herself, was something that I could resonate with,” Bailey told Variety. With her ethereal energy and musical voice, she certainly captures the essence of Ariel’s wonderment and joy with the new world around her. Stepping, once again, into the world of acting from her duo R&B group with her sister,Chloe Bailey, the two have a lot in common.
In the interview, it is also revealed that becauseThe Little Mermaiddirector,Rob Marshallwas so “enraptured” by Bailey’s audition and her “incredible vocal ability,” he and songwriters for the film, the legendaryAlan MenkenandLin Manuel Miranda, were inspired to write brand-new original numbers specifically for Bailey to perform in the film. Fans can rest assured thatThe Little Mermaidwill still feature Princess Ariel’s “Under the Sea” and her heart-wrenching track “Part of Your World” in “the most chilling, and the most thrilling, film moment” due to Bailey’s “emotional passion.”
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While her journey to the watery kingdom of Atlantica has faced certain bigoted backlash (Bailey marks the second Black Disney princessever), the actress said, “I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special, and that they should be a princess in every single way.” She notes the impact that seeing a Black Disney princess could have had on her confidence as a little girl, and knows what the weight of her starring role could carry for children today.
Bailey’s talent speaks for itself, and is so outstanding thatThe Little Mermaiddirector, Marshall,requestedshe auditioned for the role. Of her performance, Marshall said, “You could tell right away that she was able to harness Ariel’s passion, her fire, her soul, her joy, and her heart.”
Joining Bailey onThe Little Mermaidis aseriously excellent castthat boasts all-starsJavier Bardemas Ariel’s father King Triton;Melissa McCarthy, taking over the role as the evil sea-witch Ursula from the original’sPat Carroll;Awkwafinaas the loud-mouthed Scuttle andMiranda as the hot-headed Chef Louis. The cast will also featureJonah Hauer-Kingas Prince Eric,Hamilton’sDaveed Diggs, who voiced Paul in Disney’sSoul, as King Triton’s advisor Sebastian,Jacob Tremblay(Room) as Ariel’s skittish best friend Flounder,Noma Dumezweni(Mary Poppins' Return) as Carlotta andJude Akuwudike(Beasts of No Nation) as Grimsby.
The Little Mermaidis adapted to screenplay byJane Goldman(Stardust) andDavid Magee(Life of Pi), directed by Marshall whose work onPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tidesproves his delicate hand with bringing mermaids to the big screen.
The Little Mermaidis in post-production and slated for a theatrical release date on August 24, 2025. There is currently no trailer, but you can check out Collider’s interview with Miranda on his work with Disney’sEncantoandThe Little Mermaidbelow:
