The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[Disney Duster]

A non-white can have red hair because The Little Mermaid is something called a FANTASY.

[Disney's Divinity]

Especially since all the other live action princesses have kept the original hair color. Belle was a brunette, Aurora and Cinderella were blondes(and I believe Lily James is a natural brunette?) Naomi Scott has black hair, like Jasmine. It would be weird for Ariel not to be a red head. Especially since it's such an iconic part of her character. But even if they cast someone of color they can possibly make it work since mermaids aren't human. But I can't see it being the bright red that she has in the animated film.

You're right, it'll depend on the actress they hire. Ariana might be able to rock a certain shade of red, but Keke Palmer in a red wig would look so stupid... Maybe they could say Ariel dyed her hair as part of her teenage rebellion.

[Raf]

For me she doesn't look stupid at all. She rocks it .
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K0af1xCkmQA/maxresdefault.jpg

[JeanGreyForever]

As pointed out, Keke Palmer has actually had red hair so I'm not sure why there's negativity towards her being able to pull it off when she clearly has been able to. Also don't understand the comment about how women of color wouldn't be able to pull off red hair when there are a myriad of examples that refute this. Especially since Ariel's red hair is not a natural red color anyway so even a white actress who is a natural redhead wouldn't automatically fit Ariel's physical description. They would likely have to dye their hair to a darker red anyway so hair color shouldn't bar anyone from the role, regardless of skin color. And this is coming from someone who'd rather live-action Ariel resemble animated Ariel.

[Disney's Divinity]

For me she doesn't look stupid at all. She rocks it .
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K0af1xCkmQA/maxresdefault.jpg

I don't think it looks good, but that's just my opinion. Anyway, I wouldn't see her and think, gee, her hair must've grown out that color...

I saw Black Panther today and it reminded me how much I'd like to see Angela Bassett as Ursula.

[Vlad]

For me she doesn't look stupid at all. She rocks it .
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K0af1xCkmQA/maxresdefault.jpg

Whoever said she looked stupid? She's gorgeous!

BTW, I love your avatar. I don't think I have ever seen that particular picture of Ariel.

[Raf]

Anyway, I wouldn't see her and think, gee, her hair must've grown out that color...

I mean, is it even possible? I think no matter who will be cast, in live-action Ariel's shade of red will always look like it's not natural.

BTW, I love your avatar. I don't think I have ever seen that particular picture of Ariel.

Thank you! It's from the cover of Princess magazine in Poland. I thought it is too good not to use it .

[Disney's Divinity]

I mean, is it even possible? I think no matter who will be cast, in live-action Ariel's shade of red will always look like it's not natural.

There are plenty of people in the world with natural auburn hair close enough to Ariel's that would both look like her and not look completely bizarre in-film.

[MrXemnas1992]

I'm fearing to be labeled as a racist, but I simply find the choice of black casting for the leads to be unnecessary and superfluous. There's nothing wrong by actually having a black lead for a Disney Princess, but it would've made more sense in a different concept, something like a Broadway stageplay, not a feature picture (or if this was a live action version of The Princess and the Frog, which actually calls for it ). As already mentioned, Ariel is automatically labeled for her red hair, which makes her distinctive and unique. Why even having the issue?

You're not racist.

I personally wouldn't care if the rest of the cast are people of color, but I don't think it fits the Disney adaptation's version of the story for Ariel and Triton to be anything but white. Not that white people are the only people in the world with prejudice, but the story works better for Triton to be coded as a patriarchal power that's phobic against people not "like" him. But, like I said, a different race for Ursula or Eric might actually improve the film's plot/themes. Ursula is the primal female figure rising up against Triton's patriarchal order, so throwing another reason for her pariah status on top would only provide more explanation for her rage against Triton. Eric is the outsider that Triton despises; making him even more different from Ariel and Triton would only accentuate Triton's hatred and bigotry.

I totally agree with this.

"Little Mermaid" is probably my favorite Disney film, so I'm going to be very judgmental and cautious regarding whomever they cast...I would prefer someone like Emma Stone or hell, even JoAnna Garcia [who played her in Once Upon a Time] in the lead role.

I want to be able to think "wow, this is actually Ariel in live action" not "oh, this is the actress the studio casted as Ariel to show they're progressive", y'know?

[MrXemnas1992]

Here’s my dream cast~

Ariel: Emma Stone

Eric: John Boyega

Triton: Liam Neeson or Bill Nighy

Ursula: Harvey Fierstein or Audra McDonald

Sebastian: Tittus Burgess or James Monroe Iglehart

Grimsby: Kelsey Grammar, Jonathan Freeman, Jeremy Irons, or Ewan McGregor

[Disney's Divinity]

Here’s my dream cast~

Ariel: Emma Stone

Eric: John Boyega

Triton: Liam Neeson or Bill Nighy

Ursula: Harvey Fierstein or Audra McDonald

Sebastian: Tittus Burgess or James Monroe Iglehart

Grimsby: Kelsey Grammar, Jonathan Freeman, Jeremy Irons, or Ewan McGregor

I would love Iglehart as Sebastian. I thought Burgess was a phenomenal singer in the musical, but sounded a little forced when he was just talking to the point that I'd rather pick Iglehart. At the rate they're going with these terrible brainstormed casting ideas like Zendaya as Ariel though, they'll probably end up casting Kanye West as Sebastian.

My dream choices:

Ariel: ? I would've loved Amanda Seyfried years ago, but she's too old now. I'd rather they cast a perfect unknown like they're doing with Aladdin.
Ursula: Bette Midler, Angela Bassett, Harvey Fierstein
Triton: Donald Sutherland
Sebastian: I definitely would want someone who could sing like Burgess/Iglehart as my first choice. Somehow the comic side of Sebastian makes me imagine Kevin Hart, except the idea of him lipsyncing UtS/KtG would be so horrible that surely Disney wouldn't....

I feel like with Eric, Grimsby, etc., there are so many different actors that could work in those roles that I'm not particular. All I hope is that whoever they get for Eric is very attractive, because he was the hottest Disney prince. Darren Criss has the black hair/blue eye thing going on. I wonder if Donald Glover would be too old (and he can sing). Alfred Enoch is fine although he hasn't really been in movies outside a background role in the HP series (he did work in an ABC series so there's a Disney connection there). I still think Peter Dinklage would be cool as Grimsby.

[Vlad]

Anyway, I wouldn't see her and think, gee, her hair must've grown out that color...

I mean, is it even possible? I think no matter who will be cast, in live-action Ariel's shade of red will always look like it's not natural.

BTW, I love your avatar. I don't think I have ever seen that particular picture of Ariel.

Thank you! It's from the cover of Princess magazine in Poland. I thought it is too good not to use it .

Cool. That is a really beautiful shot of her. It’s quite rare seeing her in her blue dress.

[Disney Duster]

Wow Bette Midler as Ursula is inspired. I would love that. But I don't think Emma Stone could be Ariel because she doesn't look 16. They'd have to change her age and thus change her rebellious teen thing going on so it unfortunately wouldn't work. I wish we could time travel and pull young Emma Stone into now to cast her. But I also like Liam Neeson as Triton!

I'm glad so many agree Ariel's shade of red hair would look great on a non-white actress in the film.

[Vlad]

For me, the ideal Ariel, would be someone like Amanda Seyfried. Yeah, she's older, but she has a lovely singing voice. Bette Midler as Ursula would be awesome. She has just the right amount of sass and attitude.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm glad so many agree Ariel's shade of red hair would look great on a non-white actress in the film.

And I'm glad so many didn't. Didn't you think it would be disrespectful and "unbelievable" for a man to play Ursula, btw?

For me, the ideal Ariel, would be someone like Amanda Seyfried. Yeah, she's older, but she has a lovely singing voice. Bette Midler as Ursula would be awesome. She has just the right amount of sass and attitude.

Even though she’s 32, I really wouldn’t mind if they did cast her. Like most actors, she looks years younger than she really is, and they could smudge Ariel’s age upwards to 19-21 if they wanted. (I honestly think they’ll age her up to 18 at least anyway regardless of who’s cast…. For a lot of reasons.)

Jessica Chastain is another actress I wish was younger, who could have done well with the role.

[DisneyJedi]

To be honest, I don’t want Harvey Fierstein as Ursula. He sounds like he’s been smoking one too many cigarettes.

[Disney Duster]

I'm glad so many agree Ariel's shade of red hair would look great on a non-white actress in the film.

And I'm glad so many didn't. Didn't you think it would be disrespectful and "unbelievable" for a man to play Ursula, btw?

What's that, only you thought a non-white actress would look bad with Ariel's red hair? That's right. And yeah I don't want a man to be Ursula. That would instantly make Ursula more silly and less serious, and thus the movie as well. And I've seen like only one person besides you want Harvery Fierstein.

[Disney's Divinity]

What's that, only you thought a non-white actress would look bad with Ariel's red hair? That's right. And yeah I don't want a man to be Ursula. That would instantly make Ursula more silly and less serious, and thus the movie as well. And I've seen like only one person besides you want Harvery Fierstein.

At least you admit you're a hypocrite. A man playing a drag queen-inspired character would be "unbelievable," but how dare I not want a black girl in a ridiculous, fake wig, don't I know it's a FANTASY.

And, btw, Widdi was the first person to suggest Fierstein. At least keep your facts straight when you're being a passive-aggressive liar, Taylor Swift.

[Atlantica]

Bette Middler for Ursula would be just perfection, as would Angela Bassett !

I’d rather they not experiment for Ariel, and just keep her as she is in the original. That might be extremely racist - sounding but certainly isn’t intentional. But if whoever they’ve mentioned is superb in the role, then I guess why not ?

Just feel like TLM has been experimented on so much in the past ..... I’d rather just a straight up retelling with further character development, much like Cinderella.

[Disney Duster]

I'm no hypocrite. If we're going to believe there are half-fish half-humans, we can believe those human halves also have natural red hair regardless of skin color. Asking us to believe a man is a woman is a different kind of film logic The Little Mermaid was not going for. Disney's Divinity, you failed to realize when I said only one other person suggested Fierstein I meant of recent discussion, but it doesn't matter because they're not gonna have a man play Ursula. And even though I would prefer an Ariel that looks like the original, there's still more people here backing me that a non-white with Ariel's red hair (which could be digitally done, doens't need a wig) would be awesome.

Atlantica, yes, I would like this to be like Cinderella, too!