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After much speculation and criticism before the film was released, The Little Mermaid has defied expectations to stand out in its limited special theatrical run, where it has received largely positive reactions from fans and critics. Disney live-action remakes have always been a tricky territory, with this one receiving special negative attention for multiple reasons, including the dark-skinned Ariel, which is different from the original 1989 animated film.
After years of criticism faced by Disney for not being inclusive, they have finally started to make more inclusive content over the past decade, sometimes taking bold decisions to uphold their morals. Casting Halle Bailey was one such decision, and it was met with skepticism from fans, and sometimes racism too.
Thankfully, The Little Mermaid reportedly fared much better than how most haters would have expected, giving the ones who believed in the film to have a moment to rejoice. Many called out the haters and racists on social media platforms since the reports started praising Halle Bailey's portrayal of Ariel.
"I planned this": How are fans reacting to The Little Mermaid's first reaction?
The Little Mermaid seemed to be on its way to a great failure, especially with so many criticisms and controversies spread around its arrival time. The most recent controversy saw fans get disgusted and make fun of the CGI fishes in the film. Moreover, Bailey herself faced the stick earlier for saying how the new film changed Ariel's original backstory.
And of course, some were still never satisfied because of a black woman playing Ariel. This sad state of the country was reflected in some tweets that came today after Bailey's performance as Ariel was praised by many.
Thankfully, there were more who rejoiced at this moment and celebrated the success of Bailey and the film. Plenty of fans took to Twitter to talk about her acting, the film's general consensus, and how it defied the odds to become a great film.
Check out some of these tweets below:
The Little Mermaid will make its theatrical debut on May 26, 2023, around the globe. The film is directed by Rob Marshall, written by David Magee, and produced by Disney studios. Alongside Halle Bailey, the film stars Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy in key roles.
The synopsis for the film reads as:
"The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land."
The Little Mermaid premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023, which also became the source of information about its critical success.
Catch it in theatres near you later this month, on May 26.
