Live-Action The Little Mermaid

[Zant]

Maybe Zendaya won't have red hair for Ariel but brown like MJ. And she'll be awkward, dry and frumpy and named Arlene before becoming the Ariel we all know.

 

[Norman]

Lohan's reputation means major studios aren't going to give here lead roles in anything until she can string together some professional work without any drama surrounding her.

Too bad.

 

[Arachnerd]

Zendaya actually playing a character with red hair? Wouldn't that be a surprise.

 

[Dark Raven]

Is Ariel going to have a shell bikini top for the whole movie? Or will she only wear that at the very end? Or maybe there will just be a homage to it, like she sees it hanging up somewhere and says that she's not going to wear that sort of thing.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

So is this actually happening?

 

[jed]

So according to this Disney insider from Instagram, Disney has apparently already cast Ariel! Announcement is bound to happen within the next two months.

He wouldn't spill the name of the actress but gave away several hints. It's a singer/actress who has played in a couple of films so far, two in particular are what made Disney realize she's the perfect pick to play the little mermaid. Her casting will make some fans angry and others will be very happy about it.

Shooting is said to start in early 2019, with the movie being released in late 2020. After casting Ariel, Disney will start looking for someone to play prince Eric.

---

Analyzing those hints lead me to believe that Zendaya might have been cast for the role! And I ain't even mad I did always imagine someone very pale to play Ariel in live action, since that goes perfectly with red hair. And there's no sunlight under the sea anyway, so it would've made sense. But seeing how Momoa looks so badass as Aquaman, I can definitely imagine a PoC for Ariel too. And Zendaya is beautiful. I definietely picture her alongside Matthew Daddario as mentioned above.

It would be Zendaya's second role as an iconic redhead, following her portrayal of Michele "MJ" Johnson in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" - but here's hoping Disney will stick closer to the original film then Marvel did with the comics in "MJ's" case, and give her actual red hair. It's a must for me.

No, please. Sorry.

Zendaya is beautiful but she is not Ariel. Not the Ariel that I grew up watching.


This will be even worse casting than Anna Diop as Starfire in "Titans".

 

[Dark Raven]

No, please. Sorry.

Zendaya is beautiful but she is not Ariel. Not the Ariel that I grew up watching.


This will be even worse casting than Anna Diop as Starfire in "Titans".

She's not going to be the Ariel you grew up watching though. She has to earn that first. She needs to go through a character journey and only at the end of the film or in the sequel will she be the Ariel you know and love. I doubt she'll even get her mermaid's tail or be able to swim until the last 15 minutes.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Wait... Zendaya is Ariel?

Not what I was expecting.

 

[CB Fan]

Zendaya huh?...well I guess...she better have red hair if true. The most important thing to me is that she have “the most beautiful voice”.

 

[CB Fan]

No, please. Sorry.

Zendaya is beautiful but she is not Ariel. Not the Ariel that I grew up watching.


This will be even worse casting than Anna Diop as Starfire in "Titans".

There was nothing wrong with casting Anna Diop, where they went wrong was not making her orange and that silly hooker wig that hopefully is only in the show for that one scene.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Zendaya gonna play all classic redheads from now on.

Sort-of-MJ, Ariel... Who's next? Babs Gordon?

 

[Drizzle]

I guess if Disney was going to race swap any of the princesses for their live action adaptations, Ariel makes the most sense since she isn't tied to a particular culture. I'm indifferent towards it if it's true but it'll probably piss off the same people who bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media and whined about LeFou being gay in Beauty and the Beast.

 

[Fincher]

Zendaya gonna play all classic redheads from now on.

Sort-of-MJ, Ariel... Who's next? Babs Gordon?

Zendaya is Anne of Green Gables.

 

[Spider-Ranger]

Zendaya gonna play all classic redheads from now on.

Sort-of-MJ, Ariel... Who's next? Babs Gordon?

Can't wait for that Pippi Longstocking adaptation

 

[Dark Raven]

Zendaya will be Ginger Spice next!

They'll probably race swap the Spice Girls if there is a biopic of them.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Zendaya gonna play all classic redheads from now on.

Sort-of-MJ, Ariel... Who's next? Babs Gordon?

Zendaya will be Ginger Spice next!

They'll probably race swap the Spice Girls if there is a biopic of them.

 

[Da-Scribe]

Zendaya is half white I think, so everyone should shake hands and call it a draw.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

Ariel - Anna Kendrick
Eric - Sebastian Stan
Scuttle - Jay Mohr (he can do a spot-on Buddy Hackett impression)
Flounder - Michael Cera
Grimsby - Charles Dance or Ian McKellan
Chef Louis' - Gerard Depardieu
Ursula - Kathy Bates, Queen Latifah, Bette Midler or Meryl Streep
King Triton - Liam Neeson
Sebastian - Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Sean Paul or Ahmed Best
Flotsam & Jetsam - Andy Serkis

 

[DarkKnight88]

A 30 year old teenager. I buy it.

 

[DACrowe]

I'd be a little surprised if they go with Zendaya considering one of the most defining things about Ariel's iconography is her red hair, and the whole point of these remakes is the cash gra... I mean nostalgia of recreating it how you remember it.

My bigger issue is that while Zendaya is very pretty, she cannot sing or act that well. At least judging by Greatest Showman where she did both fairly poorly. But hey that didn't stop them from casting Emma Watson as Belle either...

 

[terry78]

It's all about who's in at the moment.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I would love Zendaya in the role but red hair is a must.

 

[DACrowe]

Eh, these movies don't need stars, or can make stars in the process (see Lily James as Cinderella). I'd rather they cast someone who can sing, as the ethereal quality of Ariel's voice is one of the most important aspects of the story.

Ah well, here's hoping they at least give her red hair if it is Zendaya. And given they botched Beauty and the Beast, I wasn't exactly holding out hope for this.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

A 30 year old teenager. I buy it.

Does she have to be a teenager? Look at some of the changes these live-action remakes have done. Kendrick can still pass off as young. Not sixteen sure, but she has a singing voice and has a youthful look to her.

I just threw out her name because she's worked with Rob Marshall and can sing.

 

[CB Fan]

I do agree with DA these remakes sell themselves and don’t have to have big stars in the lead roles. Beauty and the Beast would’ve made a billion without Emma Watson, Lion King would make a billion without Beyoncé not sure why Disney feels big names are a must.