Disney has unveiled its latest princess, with US singer Halley Bailey cast as Ariel in the upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid.
The 19-year-old will lead the live-action update of the 1989 animation following what the director called an “extensive search”.
Bailey is known for singing in the RnB duo Chloe x Halle, with sister Chloe. She confirmed the news by posting on the group’s Twitter page this morning, saying that it was a “dream come true”.
“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance – plus a glorious singing voice – all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role," director Rob Marshall said in a statement.
Bailey first found success with Chloe x Halle after posting videos on YouTube. They went on to release their album The Kids Are Alright in 2018, supporting Beyonce and Jay Z on tour and performing as part of the Super Bowl earlier this year.
As well as her music career, Bailey starred in episodes of sitcom Grown-ish and also appeared in the Queen Latifa film 2006 film Last Holiday.
Disney’s decision to cast a young black actress in the role has been widely well received on social media, with many praising the studio's commitment to diversity, as the reactions below make clear.
Little Mermaid is one of the many Disney reboots coming our way over the next few years, and is due to go into production in 2020.
