Halle Bailey Releases “The Little Mermaid” Trailer At Oscars

On Sunday night, Halle Bailey gave fans watching the Oscars their finest glimpse yet at her next picture, The Little Mermaid. Bailey debuted new footage from the live-action remake of the classic Disney film during the Academy Awards ceremony in 2023.

She looked stunning in an aquamarine gown by Dolce & Gabbana. “I was just really happy to sing the original songs that I loved so much,” Bailey said of the film during an interview with Laverne Cox on E!’s red carpet pre-show. “I think people will accept and love the new ones, 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