Live-Action The Little Mermaid

[Fincher]

I don't know if Skyler Samuels can sing, but I could see her as Ariel.

 

[sueb1863]

The actress playing Ariel doesn't have to actually be a teenager but I think she needs to be closer to being one than a thirty year old. Ariel is supposed to be 16, almost half Kendrick's age. Kendrick's talented but there is no way she could pull off trying to portray a 16 year old.

 

[DACrowe]

I will just point out that the "Disney Insider" is also someone who claimed Disney was going to have a meeting with James Gunn about reinstatement. So do take this rumor with a grain of salt.

That could be wishful thinking though, simply because I want someone who can sing (and red hair.... but surely they wouldn't "MJ" Zendaya's Ariel, right?)

The other thing is other Disney fans might be better versed, but is there anyone else from the Disney Channel machine in their 20s who could play Ariel? (Sing, act, etc.) The questionable rumor could be referring to one of them.

 

[2kt09]

She has a built-in audience. The Little Mermaid has a built-in audience.

 

[Fincher]

I will just point out that the "Disney Insider" is also someone who claimed Disney was going to have a meeting with James Gunn about reinstatement. So do take this rumor with a grain of salt.

That could be wishful thinking though, simply because I want someone who can sing (and red hair.... but surely they wouldn't "MJ" Zendaya's Ariel, right?)

The other thing is other Disney fans might be better versed, but is there anyone else from the Disney Channel machine in their 20s who could play Ariel? (Sing, act, etc.) The questionable rumor could be referring to one of them.

If there's any truth to that rumor, it could be Victoria Justice. She's young, she sings and acts, she looks similar to Ariel, and she's Hispanic (even if she's pretty heavily Caucasian) so that could explain the people getting angry part. In recent years she's done a romantic comedy (Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List) and a TV movie musical (Rocky Horror Picture Show), and if you're looking for evidence that someone could play Ariel, those might be good places to look.

Well, she was Nickelodeon, not Disney. Did the insider specify Disney Channel?

 

[Dark Raven]

The actress playing Ariel doesn't have to actually be a teenager but I think she needs to be closer to being one than a thirty year old. Ariel is supposed to be 16, almost half Kendrick's age. Kendrick's talented but there is no way she could pull off trying to portray a 16 year old.

A good actress can be 41 or 51 and still convincingly play a teenager. It's called ACTING. (<-- note you always have to write this bit in capitals whenever you try to make this point).

 

[Drizzle]

A good actress can be 41 or 51 and still convincingly play a teenager. It's called ACTING. (<-- note you always have to write this bit in capitals whenever you try to make this point).

 

[Spider-Ranger]

Would you want the movie to incorporate elements from the original fairy tale?

I know Andersen's version has some very heavy topics like murder and stuff, but it would be a nice nod. Toned down of course. For example, have Ariel feel pain with every step she takes on land.

 

[Dark Raven]

Would you want the movie to incorporate elements from the original fairy tale?

I know Andersen's version has some very heavy topics like murder and stuff, but it would be a nice nod. Toned down of course. For example, have Ariel feel pain with every step she takes on land.

She will feel that if she's played convincingly by a 60 year old (it's called ACTING). It will be her arthritis setting in!

 

[sueb1863]

A good actress can be 41 or 51 and still convincingly play a teenager. It's called ACTING. (<-- note you always have to write this bit in capitals whenever you try to make this point).

Please name one 41 or 51 year old actor or actress who convincingly played a teenager at those ages. Key word being convincingly - that is, anyone who didn't know their age would plausibly think they were no older than 19.

And you can ACT like a teenager at any age, but it's pretty much impossible to LOOK like a teenager when you're 41, unless you're Mickey Rooney or Michael J. Fox. At 51 - there just ain't no way, sorry.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/08/22/zendaya-rumored-ariel-role-live-action-little-mermaid/

Before ANYONE starts screaming about "BUT ARIEL'S NOT BLACK" 1. Zendaya can sing and act like a pro so who cares? and 2. think about what this could mean for King Triton: maybe Idris Elba or Keith David perhaps? Either choice could be bad-ass, especially David!

 

[HBarnill]

https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/08/22/zendaya-rumored-ariel-role-live-action-little-mermaid/

Before ANYONE starts screaming about "BUT ARIEL'S NOT BLACK" 1. Zendaya can sing and act like a pro so who cares? and 2. think about what this could mean for King Triton: maybe Idris Elba or Keith David perhaps? Either choice could be bad-ass, especially David!

Racists need to die, period.

 

[Drizzle]

Like I said on the previous page, The Little Mermaid isn't tied to a particular culture, so they should have free range to change Ariel's race all they want.

 

[DACrowe]

I mean, I'm mildly disappointed if it's true because this is the one princess where I feel like her hair color (note: not necessarily skin) matters. But Zendaya is more disappointing to me due to her mediocre acting and singing skills based on The Greatest Showman (IMO).

With that said, I will reserve reacting much one way or another until more reliable outlets start reporting it. At the moment, this strikes me as a very easy rumor to start because it sounds very believable.

 

[Drizzle]

I mean, I'm mildly disappointed if it's true because this is the one princess where I feel like her hair color (note: not necessarily skin) matters. But Zendaya is more disappointing to me due to her mediocre acting and singing skills based on The Greatest Showman (IMO).

With that said, I will reserve reacting much one way or another until more reliable outlets start reporting it. At the moment, this strikes me as a very easy rumor to start because it sounds very believable.

I mean, they'll probably keep the red hair. The animated version's hair didn't look all that naturally red anyway.

 

[flickchick85]

I mean, she's a mermaid. No reason a mermaid with her skin tone can't naturally have red hair, lol.

 

[DACrowe]

I mean, they'll probably keep the red hair. The animated version's hair didn't look all that naturally red anyway.

Agreed, that's why I'm more concerned about the acting and singing.

Ah, but to be fair the only one of these live-action remakes that really impressed me so far is The Jungle Book. It's just the "proper four" renaissance films (TLM through TLK) are more near and dear to my nostalgia. But after Beauty and the Beast, I am prepared for similar treatment here.

 

[HBarnill]

If she has any social media accounts, she probably should delete them.

 

[childeroland]

The whiny supremacists seemed to survive her being MJ, they'll survive this.

 

[Fincher]

Like I said on the previous page, The Little Mermaid isn't tied to a particular culture, so they should have free range to change Ariel's race all they want.

They have free range to change anything, regardless. At the same time, moviegoers have free range to watch or not watch what they choose.

Ariel's a character I'm picky about, so if I don't like the choice, I'm going to bail on the whole thing. It's as simple as that.

 

[Spider-Ranger]

I really want Bosslogic to do a manip of Zendaya as Ariel, just to get a feel of what she might look like!

 

[jed]

https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/08/22/zendaya-rumored-ariel-role-live-action-little-mermaid/

Before ANYONE starts screaming about "BUT ARIEL'S NOT BLACK" 1. Zendaya can sing and act like a pro so who cares? and 2. think about what this could mean for King Triton: maybe Idris Elba or Keith David perhaps? Either choice could be bad-ass, especially David!

Thanks but no Thanks.

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

Sorry but if Disney wants to mess up and ruin my childhood memories of Ariel, Fine, let them have it.

I'll just skip and boycott this movie.

Thanks Disney. You actually help me save a total of twelve dollars worth of a movie ticket.

 

[Abudefduf]

Racists need to die, period.

Sorry but if Disney wants to mess up and ruin my childhood memories of Ariel, Fine, let them have it.

This is not how the human brain works

And of course Zandaya is not the Ariel we grew up watching, that one was a cartoon.

The Little Mermaid (1990) = the one we grew up watching
The Little Mermaid (2020?) = a different movie

 

[scifiwolf]

No problem with the diversity choice. I dig it. My only thing is Zendaya herself. I just get nothing from her with regard to personality. I feel like she’s getting roles off singing talent, looks, and a good agent as opposed to being right for them. It’s reminding me of Sam Worthington. He’s great in the right roles, but only meh in the ones where his agent got him the parts.

 

[Drizzle]

They have free range to change anything, regardless. At the same time, moviegoers have free range to watch or not watch what they choose.

Ariel's a character I'm picky about, so if I don't like the choice, I'm going to bail on the whole thing. It's as simple as that.

They do have free range to change anything, but there are certain cases like Mulan, Jasmine, or Snow White where their races shouldn't be changed at all due to the background of the story. Ariel doesn't fit that particular category.