Original Ariel Jodi Benson: Halle Bailey ‘absolutely amazing’ in ‘The Little Mermaid’

Unique Ariel Jodi Benson had nothing however reward for Halle Bailey after footage from Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” debuted this weekend on the D23 Expo.

On Sunday, Benson deemed the extremely anticipated film musical “beautiful” whereas lauding Bailey’s “lovely efficiency as Ariel” by way of Instagram. Benson famously voiced the rebellious sea princess within the 1989 animated basic of the identical title.

Throughout its annual conference in Anaheim, Disney unveiled a clip of Bailey singing “A part of Your World” as Ariel within the movie, which is predicted to hit theaters subsequent 12 months. A shortened model of the “A part of Your World” sequence was additionally launched Friday as a part of Disney’s teaser trailer for the movie.

“Halle, you had been completely superb!” Benson wrote on Instagram. “I’m SO happy with you… it was so great to have fun with your loved ones right here at #d23expo.”

Benson additionally gave a shout-out to her longtime buddy Rob Marshall, who directed Bailey within the new “Little Mermaid.”

“So thrilled!!!!” she stated. “So excited!!!!”

“Thanks a lot @JodiBenson,” Bailey wrote again. “This implies the world to me coming from you! You made Ariel magical for us.”

Benson has been a vocal supporter of Bailey for the reason that Chloe x Halle singer was tapped to play Ariel in June 2019. After Bailey’s casting was met with a racist backlash on-line, Benson informed Comicbook.com that “it doesn’t matter what we seem like on the skin, regardless of our race, our nation, the colour of our pores and skin … we actually want to inform the story.

“I believe that the spirit of a personality is what actually issues,” she added. “What you deliver to the desk in a personality so far as their coronary heart and their spirit is what actually counts.”

Judging by Benson’s acclaim, Bailey appears to have efficiently embodied Ariel’s spirit for a brand new era. After the “Little Mermaid” teaser trailer got here out, a number of mother and father shared heartwarming movies of their younger daughters watching Bailey onscreen as Ariel for the primary time.

On Twitter, @normanination4 compiled a viral thread “of the little Black children who’re excited to see their favourite princess seem like them.”

“okay i simply sobbed watching this thanks,” Bailey replied to one video of a little bit Black woman reacting to “the true Ariel” with vast eyes and a giant smile. “she’s so candy.”

Rounding out the principle forged of Disney’s “Little Mermaid” revival are Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric. The variation may even characteristic new unique songs written by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.