What do you think of Disney casting a black actress for Little Mermaid?

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It is done for profit, of course. These are all already well-known and established characters and there is minimal risk in making them.

I can’t say that I mind. Seeing the live action versions of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin has been quite a treat. But eventually they will need to make something more original.
 
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What has this got to do with Catholic teachings or living life as a Catholic?
 
That’s the point though. I am all for more minority princesses. I think it was terrible it took until 2009 to have an black princess. But the thing is, Ariel is white. We all grew up knowing what she looked like. Disney with the last films has went out of it’s way to make the actors look like the animated version. Why change it for this film? It isn’t a racist thing I’m saying Disney should make new princesses that are minorities, not slapping Ariel as a black person when she isn’t. Honestly that in itself is kind of offensive like oh well let Ariel be black in the live action film even though everyone knows she is white. The hand of time will lay on the original films because of their impact in animation. The live films are more of just a supplement. Like as cool as the Lion King may be later this month, do you honestly think people down the road will picture that or the original?
 
I wasn’t planning on seeing it regardless of whether they cast Saoirse Ronan or Qprah Winfrey, so I couldn’t care less.

In general, I strongly dislike all the Disney animation remakes with live actors. Except I might see Lion King as I much prefer animal actors anyway.
 
Yah I guess I see what you mean.
I just am mixed on it.
 
Except Ariel is not “white” she’s a mermaid…are you upset that Belle was played by a British actress instead of a French one? Belle is French…
 
Newer generations will picture whichever version they grew up with. I’m 33 and just as easily picture the real Belle versus the animated one I saw as a kid.

Beauty and the Beast was the first of the new live action Disney movies and Jasmine is from west Asia and also a minority character. The Little Mermaid is an easy opportunity for casting a black woman and I’m sure plenty of little black girls will be smiling in the movie theater.

People say it doesnt matter what race or look these characters are but that simply isn’t true.
 
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Why don’t they just create more original minority characters instead of giving minorities a hand-me-down? It’s just a lazy woke-points grab.

And, enough with the remakes!
 
Their hit or miss.
I was disappointed with Dumbo. Also their making a Lady and the Tramp with real dogs coming out later this year.
 
They made Cinderella before Beauty and the Beast. And also I believe there was a live Jungle Book some years back.
 
There is no reason that a mermaid has to be any specific race, or that the live action mermaid has to look exactly like the animated version. If I understand correctly, the story is being rewritten to take place in the Caribbean and I think it sounds interesting. I loved Ariel as a child, but as a parent, I’m less-than-enchanted. Did anyone else notice that she’s like the worst role model ever? I hope the new Ariel, in addition to being a different color, is less of the polar opposite of what I want my daughters to be. I try to evaluate the live-action remakes on their own merit. I thought Cinderella and Alice and Wonderland were both unmemorable. Dumbo was “turn-it-off-awful”. I liked the Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast a lot and I thought Aladdin was actually better than the original! I’m looking forward to The Lion King
 
Much casting these days involves spinning the Wheel of Diversity and seeing what comes up. We each get to react to the choices as we see fit.
 
I’m not the demographic for this movie, but I see no issue with it.

What bothers me more is that Idris Alba still isn’t the new James Bond (yes I know it’s not Disney).
 
Weren’t a lot of the Disney princesses kind of rebellious? I know what you mean about Ariel but I think the same could be said about a handful of them. Most of them didn’t do as their elders wanted. I think independence has always been a theme for them.
 
Thomasbradley312 said:
I was just curious what people thought regarding Disney casting a black actress to play Ariel in the upcoming live action Little Mermaid film?
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I don’t think anything. Because: who cares?
Thomasbradley312 said:
what if the rolls were reversed and one of the minority Disney Princesses were going to be portrayed by a white actress?
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Um, mermaids aren’t real. They don’t have an ethnicity. Unlike, say, Pocahontas.
Thomasbradley312 said:
Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark, I doubt he pictured an African American Mermaid.
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And again: mermaids are fantasy characters. Who cares if they are black, white, purple, or sparkly rainbow colored?
 
Allegra said:
I thought Aladdin was actually better than the original
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I know what you mean, it was good. But the original animated one will always have a special place for me, RIP Robin Williams.
 
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