DVDizzy Forum

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Zendaya has turned down the role of Ariel.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxpPSWQg4Jw ... _copy_link

So she was actually offered? I'm glad if she isn't going to be playing the character whatever way it happens, but the fact that they would even think of picking her to play Ariel makes it clear they don't care to get the best person for the part at all. What a shame, considering Emma was a perfect choice for Belle, and Massoud and Scott look to be great as Aladdin and Jasmine.

Maybe she's just saying that to inflate her ego.

Disney's Divinity wrote:So she was actually offered? I'm glad if she isn't going to be playing the character whatever way it happens, but the fact that they would even think of picking her to play Ariel makes it clear they don't care to get the best person for the part at all. What a shame, considering Emma was a perfect choice for Belle, and Massoud and Scott look to be great as Aladdin and Jasmine.

With all the autotune? I'm sure she was.

And with her being so lifeless.

I think Ariel almost has to be a relatively unknown. She has to be able to sing amazingly. You can't get a big star and autotune that like they did in Beauty and the Beast.

Best case scenario is they find another Naomi Scott. Experienced actress but not really famous, with an amazing voice.

ChrisLyne wrote:I think Ariel almost has to be a relatively unknown. She has to be able to sing amazingly. You can't get a big star and autotune that like they did in Beauty and the Beast.

I agree, an unknown would be the best decision for Ariel. Her voice is plot-relevant. It will be a shame if, as it appears, TLM ends up getting the worst treatment among the Fab Four in live-action as it did on Broadway. B&tB was great, Aladdin looks possibly even better, and TLK at least seems inoffensive so far.

Disney's Divinity wrote:

ChrisLyne wrote:I think Ariel almost has to be a relatively unknown. She has to be able to sing amazingly. You can't get a big star and autotune that like they did in Beauty and the Beast.

I agree, an unknown would be the best decision for Ariel. Her voice is plot-relevant. It will be a shame if, as it appears, TLM ends up getting the worst treatment among the Fab Four in live-action as it did on Broadway. B&tB was great, Aladdin looks possibly even better, and TLK at least seems inoffensive so far.

Wait for the 'Aladdin' reviews tomorrow...

I think they'll be more or less on par with the Beauty and the Beast ones, but they could also be worse. You can't trust the early reactions from critics much.

An actress who can act and sing like Naomi could would be wonderful!

D82 wrote:I think they'll be more or less on par with the Beauty and the Beast ones, but they could also be worse. You can't trust the early reactions from critics much.

The B&tB reviews are about what you'd expect for a re-make of a very popular film from most people's childhood. It really wouldn't matter to me if Aladdin received a 40% or lower on RottenTomatoes / Metacritic if I liked it myself.

Anything will be better than the atrocious Beauty and the Beast.
Aladdin seems cheap and the musical numbers feel tired, as if they did everything in one take. However I do think they tried to remain in the same spirit of the original, which is more than I can say for Beauty and the Beast, which seems to despise the original. I expect Aladdin to be bad but enjoyable.
The Lion King looks emotionless. It might have a good score though, that's really the only thing I look forward to.
I don't expect much from The Little Mermaid, I guess it will look good since Mary Poppins Returns looked good, but I didn't like Mary Poppins Returns so I don't expect to like The Little Mermaid. But who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

D82 wrote:I think they'll be more or less on par with the Beauty and the Beast ones, but they could also be worse. You can't trust the early reactions from critics much.

We're getting reviews one day before the film is released. It's a bad sign. Best case scenario: a 'Cristopher Robin' reception. But I think it's going to get trashed. It looks terrible.

farerb wrote:Anything will be better than the atrocious Beauty and the Beast.
Aladdin seems cheap and the musical numbers feel tired, as if they did everything in one take. However I do think they tried to remain in the same spirit of the original, which is more than I can say for Beauty and the Beast, which seems to despise the original. I expect Aladdin to be bad but enjoyable.
The Lion King looks emotionless. It might have a good score though, that's really the only thing I look forward to.
I don't expect much from The Little Mermaid, I guess it will look good since Mary Poppins Returns looked good, but I didn't like Mary Poppins Returns so I don't expect to like The Little Mermaid. But who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Well, a TLM with a Zendaya-level actress will doubtless be worse to me. I thought with Marshall involved, the film would trend more in the direction of bland than craptacular though.

Old Fish Tale wrote:We're getting reviews one day before the film is released. It's a bad sign.

Yeah, it's true, that's a bit worrying. Well, we'll find out soon if they are good or not.

I don't get why Zendaya said she would love to play Ariel and then she "turns down" the role.

Disney Duster wrote:I don't get why Zendaya said she would love to play Ariel and then she "turns down" the role.

It could be a lot of reasons. Honestly I bet she was incredibly close to taking the role from all we’ve heard. Either she didn’t like the direction they were going with it, or my guess is she ultimately felt it was better to leave her Disney days behind her now that she has her HBO show and not have to go back into that.

I think she’s very talented, but she doesn’t have the naïveté I think Ariel requires? She’s very composed and worldly and almost too mature? I think someone like Yara Shahidi would be a much stronger choice for the role. Bubbly but feisty and clearly very talented. I think the key to Ariel for them is going to be finding someone who can both sing, but also make Ariel endearing even in the face of poor choices that you can watch grow from a girl to a woman through the course of the movie.

Oh. Ok. I think Zendaya is actually a good singer and I liked her in that one episode of The OA. And yes, she doesn't fit Ariel very much. But as for Yara Shahidi, can she even sing?

Disney Duster wrote:Oh. Ok. I think Zendaya is actually a good singer and I liked her in that one episode of The OA. And yes, she doesn't fit Ariel very much. But as for Yara Shahidi, can she even sing?

I do too! I’m actually quite a fan of Zendaya, and I’m sure she would’ve been okay in the role, just not the perfect fit by any means.

And no idea if Yara can sing. I’m more referring just to the acting side of things. She just kind of has that *spirit* to her in my mind. I’m very curious to see if Disney goes big name with the Ariel casting or if it’s an unknown. I can guarantee though if Ariel is more unknown, Ursula is going to be a huge name. Absolutely wouldn’t be surprised if those Lady Gaga rumors turn out true, especially with her riding out her Star Is Born success.