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. “She claimed the role. She said, 'I'm Ariel,' and that's what was so beautiful,” he said.

Why did Disney cast Halle Bailey as Little Mermaid?

Rob Marshall, the director of The Little Mermaid, said he cast her as Ariel because she had an “otherworldly sensibility”, and, instantly, you can see what he means. Yesterday, an important package arrived. It contains a collection of Disney merchandise: branded water bottles, shirts, Ariel dolls.

Who auditioned for Ariel in Little Mermaid?

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.

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.

Who was originally supposed to play Ariel?

The film's director Rob Marshall has shared Bailey was the perfect choice due to her “rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence” (via D23) – a sentiment echoed by original Ariel actor Jodi Benson.

Halle Bailey's Journey to Becoming Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" | Glamour

Was Zendaya supposed to play Ariel?

Fellow Disney (and Spider-Man: Far From Home and Euphoria) star Zendaya, who was once rumored to play Ariel, tweeted the casting news saying that she's here for it. And Bailey herself, from her music group's account, tweeted that the chance to play Ariel is a dream come true.

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.

How much 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.

How did Jodi Benson get the role of Ariel?

In late 1986, Benson first heard of the audition for The Little Mermaid through lyricist and playwright Howard Ashman. The two had just worked together in the Broadway show Smile until its run ended early. He knew she would be the perfect fit for the role and that she would be a great replica of Ariel.

What ethnicity is Ariel?

In the 1989 movie, Ariel was born in the fictional underwater kingdom of Atlantica, which technically makes her Atlantican, not Danish. As Ariel is half fish, she cannot be categorized by our ethnicities and races.

Who else could have played Ursula?

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.

Did Lizzo audition for Ursula?

Lizzo Reflects on Her 'Terrible' Audition for 'The Little Mermaid' Remake: 'I Was Down to Make Ursula a THOT' "The singing was great. I'll just say that," the singer shared of going for the role.

Why did they change Ariel's bra?

A noticeable absence from this film: Ariel's shell bra.

I just think we wanted to have a more fishlike quality to the girls. Having them all plonk seashells on their breasts seemed like a weird way to go. And when you start putting shells on real bodies, it's hard to make them look good, believe me.

How was Halle Bailey discovered?

According to a 2016 Rolling Stone report, Halle was first discovered by Beyoncé after the pop queen came across Chloe x Halle's cover of her track “Pretty Hurts.” This was followed by Queen Bey sharing the clip on her Facebook page in 2014, and finally securing the musical duo a contract worth USD 1 million dollars ...

How old was Halle Bailey when she filmed The Little Mermaid?

Halle celebrated her 21st birthday while filming "The Little Mermaid," and though it was a remarkable experience sharing that moment with her castmates and crew, there was one key person missing: her sister.

Why was Halle Bailey's hair so expensive?

The hair that was added was Keratin-infused, three different shades of red, and 30 inches long — which meant the price tag was high. “I'm not guesstimating, but we probably spent at least $150,000 because we had to redo it and take it out," Friend said. "You couldn't use it and we'd have to start again.

Does Halle Bailey wear a wig?

The physical transformation of Halle did take some time, effort, and money to help her become the character of Ariel. According to Variety, Halle Bailey wished to stay true to her Black heritage and show her natural hair in the movie. So, hair extensions were used rather than a wig.

What is Halle Bailey's real name?

Halle Lynn Bailey (/ˈhæli/ HAL-ee; born March 27, 2000), known by her mononym Halle, is an American singer and actress.

Where was Little Mermaid filmed?

The live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid utilized CGI and special effects to create the underwater world and was filmed in Sardinia, Italy, to give it a Caribbean feel. The villages of Santa Teresa di Gallura and Castelsardo in Sardinia were used to film various scenes.

Who owns the rights to The Little Mermaid story?

Disney has rights to their own adaptation of the fairy tale. However, Disney does not own the rights to Andersen's original story. Others are still free to use the original work and create their own material or adaptations based on it.

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.

Did Ariel get recast?

Halle Bailey, who's just 22, was cast as Ariel back in 2019. She's half of musical duo Chloe x Halle, along with her sister, and she plays Skyler Forster in the sitcom Grown-ish. Halle Berry, of course, is an entirely different actress.

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.