“The Little Mermaid” has bombed with moviegoers in China and South Korea amid racist critiques in some quarters over the casting of Black actress Halle Bailey as main character Ariel.
Disney’s live-action remake has made only $3.6 million in mainland China since opening there on May 26, according to Box Office Mojo.
In the United States, young Black girls have hailed Disney’s decision, saying they feel represented on the big screen because of her titular role. In Japan, where the film has yet to open, it has also faced criticism from those who say the portrayal of Ariel appears to differ from the one they remember. “Don’t trample on my cherished childhood memories and the image of Ariel,” one online forum user wrote.In an editorial published a day before the film’s debut in China, state-run tabloid Global Times said it had “caused a debate about representation in entertainment and highlighted the challenges of adapting beloved, traditional tales.
“She immediately set the bar so high that no one surpassed it,” he told The Hollywood Reporter last month. “We saw every ethnicity. There was no agenda to cast a woman of color. It was really just, ‘Let’s find the best Ariel,’ and Halle claimed the role.”“The Little Mermaid” has performed better in other Asian markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia, raking in $4.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, according to Comscore data.
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