Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid had its world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Monday.
The film is a reboot of the beloved 1989 animation that won the Academy Award for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for Under the Sea.
The new film stars Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King as Ariel and Prince Eric, while Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem play Ursula and King Triton.
However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing as there has been a backlash over the casting of Bailey, a black woman, as Ariel. Traditionalists argue that her role should have gone to a white actress who more closely resembles the original animated character. Others have responded by saying the casting decision has helped bring greater diversity to the classic tale.
Ahead of the film's release in UAE cinemas on May 25, here's a timeline of all its controversial moments so far.
July 2019 — Halle Bailey is cast as Ariel
Actress and singer Bailey, known for being a member of the R&B group Chloe x Halle with her sister, is cast as Ariel in what will be her film debut.
“After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” director Rob Marshall said at the time.
She joins Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, who are tied to the project as supporting cast.
However, some traditionalists and fans of the original film have been using the hashtag #NotMyAriel in response to the announcement. Some argue a white actress should have been cast to match the animation, while others suggest they might boycott the film.
"The fact that now it's getting to be played by me, a person who looks like me, a woman of colour, I'm just like, wow. I'm so grateful what it will do for all the other little black and brown boys and girls who will see themselves in me," said Bailey after being cast. "Because I know if I had seen myself when I was younger, I think my whole perspective would've changed."
September 2022 — The Little Mermaid teaser trailer unveiled
During D23 Expo 2022, Disney releases the first teaser trailer, with Bailey as Ariel singing a verse from Part of Your World, a song which was featured in the original movie.
The clip begins by showing underwater wildlife before giving a first look at Bailey as the mermaid princess. She gracefully flows through the water before peeking out to look at the sun. Bailey is then heard singing "Out of the sea / wish I could be / part of that world..." before viewers see her face for the first time, revealing her light auburn hair.
The teaser trailer has had its dislike button and comments disabled on YouTube after reportedly receiving 1.5 million dislikes in only two days, as well an influx of racist comments in response to the clip.
March 2023 — First official trailer for The Little Mermaid released
The backlash continues as the first official trailer for the film comes out. The clip also receives a lot of dislikes, which causes actor Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf in Frozen, to speak out.
“Imagine being so broken and pathetic in life that your chief concern is the skin colour of... a make-believe singing mermaid,” he tweets.
April 2023 — Character posters revealed
The character posters for the film are revealed, offering a close-up look at what's to come. Bailey appears as Ariel and Hauer-King as Prince Eric. Other characters include Bardem as King Triton and McCarthy as Ursula while Diggs, Awkwafina and Tremblay voice their animal counterparts alongside realistic CGI.
People take to social media to share their opinions on the new posters. One user praises how the characters look and another tweets “They look like book covers (compliment)”. Another user adds: “Now this is character poster photography!" in all caps in response, while another says it is the "best cast" Disney has put together in a while.
However, not everyone is happy. One user asks why the film is not "vibrant" like the animation and asks about Ariel's red hair. Another says there is "no magic" coming from the posters and it seems like another film with a generic storyline.
May 2023 — First reactions to the film's world premiere
Despite the controversy surrounding the film, early reactions to its world premiere are positive. Gizmodo and io9 contributor Germain Lussier says the film "is exactly what you think it is", both praising the reboot and saying it feels "unnecessary".
Writer Zoe Rose Bryant, who is a member of the Hollywood Critics Awards and Film Independent, says it "retains the heart and soul of the story we know and love" and goes on to praise Bailey, calling it a "note-perfect star-making performance".
Erik Davis, who writes for Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, says on Twitter that he enjoyed the film. He calls it "definitely one of the better live-action adaptions" and praises the cast of the film saying they had "incredible emotion".
Journalist Simon Thompson, who is a voting member of Bafta, Television Academy and Critics Choice, is a little more divisive, saying the reboot is "endearing but uneven" and doesn't "deliver the magic of the animated classic." Although he also says he enjoys the "solid comic relief" from Diggs and Awkwafina.
Journalist and film critic Courtney Howard also agrees, saying The Little Mermaid is "charming, but incredibly spotty." However, she went on to praise the cast who "put their heart and souls into a film that can't escape its animated legacy."
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
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- That's about it
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Honeymoonish
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
More on Quran memorisation:
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
'Project Power'
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Rating: 3.5/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
