The Disney family has a new member in the form of singer-actress Halley Bailey. The teen star has been confirmed to play the role of the lovable and rebellious Ariel for the live-action remake of the classic Disney title "The Little Mermaid."
Disney confirmed the casting decision on Tuesday and notified Bailey the following day. Bailey did confirm that she accepted the role, which for her is such a huge break, considering the weight being put on her shoulders for headlining such a beloved classic tale.
The live-action adaptation of the film is to be directed by Rob Marshall, who also directed a sequel to "Mary Poppins" called "Mary Poppins Returns."
In a statement released following the casting decision, Marshall said, "After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, and innocence and substance - plus a glorious singing voice - all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role."
Production of the film is believed to start early next year. Insiders have noted that the production team is working on casting several notable Hollywood stars to lend their voices to the upcoming remake. Among those in the list are Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, and Melissa McCarthy.
Marc Platt is producing the remake, and he had worked with Marshall on "Marry Poppins Return." He is also the executive producer of the recently released live-action remake of "Aladdin," which was directed by Guy Ritchie.
The original animated film was made in 1989 and was helmed by John Musker and Ron Clements. The film went on to win an Oscar for best original song for Alan Menken. For the upcoming remake, Menken is tapping the talent of noted musician Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"The Little Mermaid" is known for its lively and iconic songs. Which is why there is such a great emphasis given towards casting someone great not only in acting but also has a great singing voice.
Before her being cast the role as Ariel, Baily is known as the other half of Chole x Halle, a musical duo with her sister Chloe Bailey. The act was picked and signed by Parkwood Entertainment, a musical label owned by Beyoncé. The duo went on to receive a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2018. The duo attributed their success in video-sharing platform YouTube as one of the drivers that ultimately brought them to stardom.
