Halle Bailey gave fans watching the Oscars their best look yet at her upcoming film, The Little Mermaid, on Sunday night. During the 2023 Academy Awards ceremony, Bailey shared new footage from the live-action reimagining of the classic Disney movie. She rocked an aquamarine-colored gown designed by Dolce & Gabbana. Speaking with Laverne Cox on E!’s red carpet pre-show, Bailey said of the film: “I was just really excited to sing the original songs that I loved so much. The new ones I think people will just embrace and really love and I hope they do.”
On stage, she was joined by Melissa McCarthy, who is also featured in the upcoming movie. In addition to Bailey and McCarthy, the cast is rounded out by Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Jonah Hauer-King, Art Malik, Noma Dumezweni, Javier Bardem, Simone Ashley, and Lorena Andrea. Rob Marshall serves as the film’s director.
Halle Bailey At The Oscars
When Bailey was first cast as Ariel, a vocal swath of social media users shared racist remarks in response with the hashtag, #NotMyAriel. Bailey explained to Variety afterward that she turned to her grandparents for support at the time. “It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,’” Bailey told the outlet. “What that would have done for me, how that would have changed my confidence, my belief in myself, everything. Things that seem so small to everyone else, it’s so big to us.”
The Oscars is currently airing on ABC. Earlier in the night, Ke Huy Quan took home the award for Best Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All At Once. The Little Mermaid will hit theaters on May 26. Check out the new trailer for the film below.
“The Little Mermaid” Trailer
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