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Disney-owned cable network Freeform has bit back against the "poor, unfortunate souls" criticising the casting of the live-action The Little Mermaid remake.

Halle Bailey has scored the role of Ariel in the new film, and a torrent of racist backlash has ensued as a result.

Groups online have claimed the original has now been "ruined" by a black actress earning the role, and that the Danish author of the fairytale would have wanted her to be a Caucasian actress.

The hashtag #NotMyAriel even trended after the casting announcement, with racism clearly alive and well. It's rare that an actress-of-colour gets a protagonist role, especially in a Disney film, so it's a huge deal.

In an open letter referencing Ursula the sea witch, the network reminded the ridiculous critics of the new Ariel that the tale is a "work of fiction" and that the casting of the "highly talented, gorgeous" Bailey is "inspired".

The letter reads: "Ariel … is a mermaid. She lives in an underwater kingdom in international waters and can legit swim wherever she wants…But for the sake of argument, let's say that Ariel, too, is Danish."

"Danish mermaids can be black because Danish *people* can be black."

It added: "If you still cannot get past the idea that choosing the incredible, sensational, highly talented, gorgeous Halle Bailey is anything other than INSPIRED casting that it is because she 'doesn't look like the cartoon one', oh boy, do I have some news for you… about you."

"Ariel can sneak up to the surface at any time with her pals Scuttle and the *ahem* Jamaican crab Sebastian and keep that bronze base tight. Black Danish people, and thus mer-folk, can also *genetically* have red hair," Freeform continued. SLAY.

Hilarious rapper and actress Awkwafina, who is set to play Scuttle in the film, responded to criticism by saying:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Chloe and Halle (@chloexhallebailey) on

"I think that she's going to play an amazing mermaid. She's an incredible singer, incredible actress and I'm really excited to have her as a Disney princess."

The original Little Mermaid herself, Jodi Benson, has also had her say about the casting. “The most important thing is to tell the story," she started, via Comicbook.com.

"And we have, as a family, we have raised our children, and for ourselves, that we don’t see anything that’s different on the outside. I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters," she continued.

“We need to be storytellers," she added. "And no matter what we look like on the outside, no matter our race, our nation, the colour of our skin, our dialect, whether I’m tall or thin, whether I’m overweight or underweight, or my hair is whatever colour, we really need to tell the story."

"I know for Disney that they have the heart of storytelling, that’s really what they’re trying to do. They want to communicate with all of us in the audience so that we can fall in love with the film again.”

Bailey is half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle with her sister, Chloe. Halle has yet to speak out about the backlash, which is probably wise. Don't waste energy on bigots, girl.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Matty Lin (@matty_lin) on

The new adaptation will include songs from the 1989 animated Disney classic and new tunes from original composer Alan Menken and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Production on Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid is set to begin in 2020. Hopefully the ignorant white trashbags dissing Halle will have fled the cinema by then…

Feature image: Disney/Vanyaland

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Rami Malek is everywhere at the moment, deservedly so. Fresh from his Oscar-winning role as Freddie Murcury in Bohemian Rhapsody, the next role is always a tricky one for those who win the prestigious award.

The film industry are keeping an eye on his next move, and Deadline is now reporting that Malek is in talks to become the next James Bond villain. This is pure perfection in casting, if we do say so ourselves.

If you've seen him in Mr. Robot, his stoic expressions and ability to embody mysteriousness is ideal for a walled-off and deceptive villain. Oh, and did we mention the iconic Lupita Nyong’o is might be courted as Bond 25's female lead?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@rami._.malek) on

Malek is reportedly closing the deal to act opposite Daniel Craig in Craig's last run as the renowned MI5 agent. Variety was first to mention Malek’s talks, with Cary Fukunaga directing the flick.

Nyong’o won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2013 for 12 Years A Slave, and has played her role in blockbusters like the unbelievable Best Picture nominated Black Panther. She's also starring in Jordan Peele's new genre film Us.

The 007 bad-guy role is always an incredible actor, do we remember Javier Bardem's turn? *Shivers* That man did too good a job of acting evil, it's convincing AF. We're dying to see what Malek will do with the role.

Christoph Waltz also played a Bond nemesis, with both Waltz and Bardem having their own Oscar-winning performances before transforming into treacherous deceptives.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@gqindia) on

Also joining Bond 25 alongside Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q is the talented actor Billy Magnussen.

The hyper-charming American is best known for his roles in Velvet Buzzsaw, Game Night and a hugely unique turn in Maniac alongside Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.

He's playing a CIA agent, and the eye candy is strong with this one.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Billy Magnussen (@billymagnussen) on

He’s going to play a CIA agent, which essentially means he’ll be sent in to float James Bond when he inevitably runs out of money and pick up the pieces after he runs amok in a glamorous foreign location. 

Magnussen and Malek in the same film might just send us over the edge; both talented and gorgeous humans. Wow, we can't WAIT for Bond 25 now, but a woman needs to be given the MI5 badge.

Or the role of a villain, seriously. Those men get all the juicy roles.

Feature image: Instagram/@rami._.malek

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The rumour mill is swirling about a possible new Cleopatra movie, but the internet has already summoned up the inevitable backlash which comes with casting nowadays.

Cleopatra has featured in over TWENTY movies, tv shows and animations, and has been portrayed previously by Hollywood queen Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert.

Allegedly, a new biopic about the Egyptian ruler is in the works from Sony, with Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie as frontrunners to be considered for the role.

Elizabeth Taylor infamously played the role, and also popularised kohl eyeliner and black wigs in the meantime. Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert also had their chance to play her back in the day.

However, there's a serious debate over Cleopatra's ethnicity, with some Twitter users claiming a black or ethnically diverse actress deserves the chance to play the character.

Others argue that Cleopatra was of Greek and Macedonian descent, which technically means she was Caucasian… so Twitter is pretty divided to say the least.

Complex starring roles for women are still far and few between in Hollywood, meaning that this role is the chance of a lifetime for an actress.

Twitter debate about Cleopatra began as a Lady Gaga vs Angelina battle, but it was soon asked whether a white woman should play her at all.

IMDb list the new biopic as in production, with Angelina Jolie being considered since back in 2014, but Lady Gaga's newfound Hollywood fame resulted in her name being suggested.

Social media users are now mentioning women of colour in a bid to give them a deserved chance, including big names such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Priyanka Chopra, Jameela Jamil and Jennifer Lopez.

Hollywood's lengthy history of shutting out actresses and actors of colour from contention has proven problematic, I mean did anyone see Prince of Persia? Jake Gyllenhaal, you should have known better.

According to Vox, in 2009 archaeologists discovered the remains of a woman they're convinced is Princess Arsinoe, who was Cleopatra’s sister. Her remains indicated that her mother was African.

Egyptologist Sally Ann Ashton created a 3D computer animated image of Cleopatra as a brown-skinned woman using forensics.

According to Ashton: “She probably wasn’t just completely European. You’ve got to remember that her family had actually lived in Egypt for 300 years by the time she came to power.”

No one has fully confirmed her ethnicity, with some researchers maintaining that she was pure-blooded Macedonian, and others disagreeing. 

Whatever her ethnicity is, maybe at least give diverse actresses an audition? Bit of equality in Hollywood never hurt anyone…

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Anyone who has read (or more realistically – devoured) Caitlin Moran’s How To Build A Girl knows that this coming-of-age book is going to be a stellar movie.

However, translating books to the screen is always a tricky business, mainly due to the casting.

If you get it right, everything slots into place, but if you get it wrong? Boy, the whole plot can just come crashing down. 

But we are pleasantly surprised with the choice of Beanie Feldstein as the protagonist, Wolverhampton native Johanna Morrigan. 

You might recognise Beanie as Saoirse Ronan's BFF in Ladybird but she is all ready to step into a leading role. 

Caitlin is clearly on board with this casting, replying to Beanie's tweet with, ''my timeline has just been FULL OF LOVE for you today – the womansphere has been alerted to your incoming EXPLOSION of glory and I am so, so, so thrilled to be doing this with you. OH MY GOD IT'S REAL!!!!!!'' 

Reactions to the news were overwhelmingly positive to the 25-year-old as the choice to play Johanna. 

One wrote about the LA-native's announcement, ''I love Beanie Feldstein. She's perfect for this. But can she do an English accent?'' 

The film will follow the book's plot: it's 1990 and 14-year-old Johnna has created an alter ego, Dolly Wilde, after embarrassing herself on on local TV. 

Part autobiographical, it follows Johanna as Dolly who, by 16, is smoking,drinking, writing for a music paper and exploring her burgeoning sexuality. 

The cast also includes Paddy Considine as Johnna's dad and Sarah Soleman as her mum.

On top of that, Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen will play John Kite, an older rock star whom Johanna falls madly in love with.

We are REALLY looking forward to this one!! 

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Been blessed with gorgeous red locks? 

From fiery red to strawberry blonde, a brand new TV show is looking for wannabe ginger actors in Ireland. 

MovieExtras.ie, who cast shows such as Redwater and Fair City, put out a call this week for flame-haired extras fo a currently unknown show. 

'We are urgently seeking Redheads for an exciting new TV Series shooting in Dublin and Wicklow,' reads the description. 

It's also an added bonus if you drive. 

According to the post: 'Not all of the locations will require own transport, but some of them will.'

'It will increase your eligibility for days on set if you have your own transport.'

The actors are needed this month, and if you're interested, you can fill out the application form here to be in with a chance. 

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