Halle Bailey cast as Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid; netizens defend her against online hate

Singer Halle Bailey has been roped in to play Ariel in the live-action version of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Walt Disney Studios on Wednesday took to Twitter to announce Bailey's casting in the project.
 

Rob Marshall, who recently directed Mary Poppins Returns, helms the reimagination of the 1989 classic. After bagging the lead role in the film, Bailey expressed her happiness on social media.
 

Various actors like Halle Berry, and Zendaya, who was earlier rumoured to play Ariel, congratulated Halle for bagging the role.

Meanwhile, certain sections of social media were up in arms against Disney's decision to cast a black actor as the beloved character from Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 novel. However, Bailey received overwhelming support from all quarters on social media. These supporting voices took it upon themselves to shut down the dissenters. 

While the makers have approached Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina for the roles of Flounder and Scuttle, respectively, Melissa McCarthy is in talks to play the main antagonist, Ursula.