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Is The Little Mermaid with Halle Bailey and Javier Bardem worth rewatching?
In May 2023, one of the most awaited films of the year was released – The Little Mermaid. In this moving live-action version of Disney’s cult 1989 animation, Ariel is a young Black mermaid in love with a white prince, turning this tale into a social and endearing story. As the film is airing on W9 channel on November 10th, 2025, throwback to our interview with actress and singer Halle Bailey and Javier Bardem, who respectively play Ariel and King Triton, her father. Together, they take us behind the scenes of a movie, deep into the fantasy and tangible, universal themes.
By Violaine Schütz.
Halle Bailey, the magnetic heroine of The Little Mermaid
When the radiant American actress, songwriter and singer Halle Bailey – half of the R’n’B duo Chloe x Halle formed with her sister – found out she had been chosen to play one of Disney’s most iconic heroines in a live-action remake, she burst into tears. This new version of the classic is airing on W9 on November 10th, 2025.
Numéro was at the press conference and met Beyoncé’s protégé. Halle Bailey, 25, recalls: “The night before, we had celebrated my sister’s birthday (singer, songwriter and actress Chloe Bailey, ed.). We had rented an Airbnb, had just come home and were unpacking. Then I got this call from Rob (Marshall, the director, ed.). Actually, I never answer unknown numbers, so when I saw it, I thought, ‘Whatever, I’m not going to pick up.’ Then my little brother came running toward me shouting, ‘Answer your phone, answer your phone.’ [Laughs.] I was like, ‘OK.’ So I picked up, and Rob said, ‘Hello. I’m looking for Ariel.’ And I thought, ‘Oh my God,’ and I just cried all day long.”
A Disney movie in live action
At that moment, Halle Bailey, 25, may not have fully anticipated the enormous wave of hatred that would unfairly crash down on her. Even before the live-action adaptation of the Disney Oscar-winning classic The Little Mermaid (1989) hit theatres, the project had already sparked an appalling outpouring of racism. As early as 2019, when the cast was unveiled, featuring a diversity of actors, many internet users expressed their outrage on social media over the choice of the actress set to play the fiery Ariel.
According to them, the little mermaid was supposed to be white and not portrayed by an African-American woman with red dreadlocks. Some haters even created the hashtag #NotMyAriel. Judging by these malicious, inappropriate reactions, the remake of The Little Mermaid appeared all the more necessary.
The beautiful message of tolerance conveyed in the 2.0 verison of The Little Mermaid
In this endearing adaptation, carried by moving musical sequences, tolerance is at the heart of the story. Indeed, the curious, brave and adventurous Ariel is in love with Prince Eric, whose skin colour is different than hers. The two young people both feel out of place in their worlds, yet they have much in common despite belonging to different realms – sea and land. However, their love is not accepted by their relatives. Indeed, according to ancient laws, humans must not mingle with mermaids.
Rebellious and passionate, Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, must fight so that her love for a stranger can be accepted by her kin, especially her father. She even strikes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch Ursula to make her voice heard. A struggle that echoes the past and present day, when people considered “different” have had to fight to be accepted and respected.
Already cult songs
Today, the talented Halle Bailey says she is proud of her performance in the film. And especially her stunning rendition of Part of Your World, in which her voice could move even the most cold-hearted ones. After spending days in vast water tanks on set, she explains about her character: “Ariel really helped me find myself, because she represents five years of my life now. This project kept me busy from the age of 18 to 23, which are such intense, transformative years, when you’re growing up as a young woman. I feel particularly connected to the film’s themes and to what she had to go through because of her passion, drive and will to be heard. Even if it seems scary, she goes for it. These are things I’m really trying to embrace and bring into Halle now. Her character taught me a lot.”
Javier Bardem plays Ariel’s father
Beyond the beautiful love story told in The Little Mermaid, which encourages us to look beyond appearances, its ecological dimension inviting us to preserve the oceans and the amusing presence of Ariel’s animal companions, Sebastian, Scuttle and Flounder… The relationship between Ariel and her father, King Triton, is what plunges us into waves of emotion.
Much of this is due to the dramatic skills of Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who is impressive in his role as a tyrannical father. The star of No Country for Old Men (2007), who admitted at the press conference that he was delighted to finally be able to show one of his films to his children, quickly stepped into the role. The actor recalls: “I loved Halle from the very first day I met her. So the rest of the process was just about having fun and enjoying the shoot. I think it was easy for us to connect. I’ve always been mesmerized by her qualities as a performer, not to mention her singing talent. And as an actress, what determination and courage she shows! She went exactly where she needed to go. It was incredible.”
A story about filial love
Penélope Cruz’s husband also spoke about the universal themes that run through The Little Mermaid. Issues that have not aged a bit since Disney’s 1980s version of the romantic tale inspired by Hans Christian Andersen‘s novel published in 1837. “The film is about a man who deeply loves his daughter, and who becomes confused and anxious about that love. He then prevents his daughter from being free. One of the most beautiful themes in this story is that Prince Eric’s mother and Ariel’s father, both grownups, learn from their children.”
“That’s a very important lesson about what love really means. They thought they knew what love was, but in fact they didn’t. They didn’t know what it was until they saw their children leave. Sometimes, love is letting go. And you must always respect other people’s paths,” he adds.
The Little Mermaid (2023) by Rob Marshall, airing on W9 on November 10th, 2025.
