Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King share their excitement ahead of the release of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ live-action remake

CHICAGO– As we count down the days until Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ reimagining in 2023, stars Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King have opened up about their magical roles.

It’s been a long wait for this release for stars and fans alike.

“Oh, it’s so amazing that this movie is coming out,” Bailey said. “I mean, we worked on this for a very long time, there were stops and starts because of the world.”

In “The Little Mermaid,” Eric and Ariel search for a different way of life, which Bailey says adds a deeper layer to their love story.

“That’s what ultimately connected them, it was their shared values ​​and experience in life and their desire for something bigger for both of them,” she said.

“Going into that shipwreck and being rescued by that girl, I think that’s a catalyst for him to chase after that,” Hauer-King said of Prince Eric. “He’s looking forward to reuniting with that girl who found him, but I think it represents something even bigger. It represents him wanting to get out into the world and learn about other people.”

Bailey’s casting as Ariel drew strong reactions from the public.

“Seeing the reactions of kids and babies, saying ‘Wow, she looks like me,’ it’s so overwhelming and it makes me emotional every time I think about it. But it was adorable,” she said . “I had an interaction at Disney World the other day with this beautiful little girl named Mila Rose. She hugged me so tight, she didn’t say a word, she reached out her arms and just hugged me tight and wouldn’t let go. It healed all the emotions inside of me and made my whole life. That’s the reason we’re doing this.

“The Little Mermaid” hits theaters Thursday.

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