Disney’s live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ to star a black Ariel

American R&B singer Halle Bailey is to play Ariel in a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, she said Wednesday, in a rare casting of a black actress as a Disney princess.

Bailey, 19, who rose to fame under the wing of pop queen Beyoncé, said it was a “dream come true” to play the lead role.

She tweeted a cartoon image of the princess in which the traditionally red-headed Ariel has dark skin, brown eyes and black hair.

Halle Bailey. Picture: AFP

Director Rob Marshall said Bailey had been cast after an extensive search, and praised her “rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice”.

News of the casting was trending on Twitter late Wednesday, with many fans overjoyed by the decision.

“If your Egyptian adaptations (actually historical) can be white people, Ariel (a fictional character) can be black,” wrote one Twitter user, @NiceNurse22.

Like most Disney princesses, Ariel has been portrayed as pale-skinned in previous cartoon films, in which she was voiced by white actress Jodi Benson.

Picture: Disney

Disney came under criticism last year for “whitewashing” Princess Tiana in cartoon movie Ralph Breaks the Internet, hastily redrawing the character with darker features just months before the film’s release.

Bailey’s casting comes more than two decades after Disney cast singer Brandy, who is also black, as Cinderella in a live-action 1997 film.

Bailey is part of Atlanta-based sister duo Chloe x Halle, who received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist last year.

Brandy in Cinderella. Picture: Disney

Beyoncé became a mentor of sorts to them after seeing the pair cover her song Pretty Hurts in 2013. They were signed to her label soon after, and Beyoncé took them on her tour in 2016.

Former first lady Michelle Obama is a fan of the duo, turned on to their music by daughters Sasha and Malia.

The Little Mermaid will be the latest in a crop of live-action remakes of classic Disney movies, including the recent Aladdin.

Filming is slated to begin next year.

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