Controversial Reaction to “The Little Mermaid”: Refreshing Adaptation vs. Loyalty to the Original

Disney’s live-action film “The Little Mermaid” has sparked a clear difference in opinions among audiences.

“The Little Mermaid” depicts the story of Ariel (Halle Bailey), a mermaid princess curious about the human world across the sea, who rescues Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) from a shipwreck and falls in love with him. As Ariel ventures into the human world to meet Prince Eric, various dangers lurk, but she overcomes them with her own strength.

There was already considerable anticipation for the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” prior to its release. Expectations of bringing the 1989 animated original to life in a live-action adaptation were high. 

However, controversy arose when Ariel was cast as a black actress, leading to a clash of opinions, and concerns were raised about potential damage to the original work.

Since its release, “The Little Mermaid” has received extreme ratings, with no middle ground. While some highly praise the film for capturing Disney’s distinctive sentiment and applaud the novelty of having Halle Bailey portray a black Ariel, there are also criticisms that the story overly relies on the original and lacks originality.

Interest is focused on how the mixed reception of “The Little Mermaid” will impact its box office success. Previously released Disney live-action films such as “Mulan,” “Aladdin,” “Cruella,” and “Beauty and the Beast” easily dominated the box office and set records. In comparison, the initial performance of “The Little Mermaid” is disappointing. 

Source: Naver.