
Warning: there are spoilers ahead for the new Little Mermaid film!
Even though the story of Ariel the little mermaid mainly takes place “under the sea,” Halle Bailey does spend some time on dry land while playing Ariel in the new live-action reimagining of the 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid.
During said time on “dry land,” Halle Bailey meets someone unexpected while she is playing the role of Ariel (again, spoiler alert)!
Spoiler Alert!
It’s not Ursula’s human alter-ego Vanessa (although both Ursula and Vanessa, who are played by Melissa McCarthy and newcomer Jessica Alexander, have been making headlines of their own due to their performances).
Instead, the special character who Ariel meets is actually someone who Disney fans will instantly recognize!
While exploring the seaside town that her love interest Prince Eric calls home, Ariel participates in a poignant interaction with the original Ariel: Jodi Benson! Benson plays a shopkeeper who hands Ariel a fork (or, as Ariel would call it, a “dinglehopper”).
The Old Guard Welcomes the New Guard
To general fans, this will be a funny reference to the first Little Mermaid movie.
To hardcore fans who have an intimate knowledge of the workings behind the scenes at Disney, and who are familiar with Benson, it will also be a significant scene that represents the shift from the old guard to the new guard as Jodi Benson essentially hands over the future of the Little Mermaid franchise.
This is not the first time that Jodi Benson has appeared in a Disney film, although this is obviously the first time that she has directly appeared as a different character in a Little Mermaid movie.
Jodi Benson can also be seen in the Disney movie Enchanted opposite Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams!
The singer, actress, and author (not to mention Disney Legend) has been very open about her happiness for Halle Bailey and her conviction that Halle Bailey excels in her performance as Ariel.
A Magical Meeting
Since Jodi Benson is famous for her Disney princess personality offscreen as well as onscreen, her support of the young actress taking over the Disney role is not surprising!
Take a look at the duo’s enthusiastic meeting on the Little Mermaid red carpet in the Instagram post shown below!
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Have you seen the new Little Mermaid movie yet? Did you notice this scene and point out its significance to the people around you (if they weren’t fighting, that is)?