Could Ari Lennox move from Dreamville's First Lady to a Disney princess? She's hoping so, and Lennox is publicly auditioning, kind of, for a crown. The R&B maven is both beloved as a songbird and a pop culture personality, and recently, she used social media to gain the attention of Disney's head honchos. Ari shared a video to Instagram of her in the studio delivering her rendition of Anika Noni Rose's "Almost There" from The Princess and the Frog. The film marked Disney's first Black princess in history, and there have also been conversations about a potential live-action remake.
"Hi @Disney I’m Ari Lennox," the singer also wrote in the caption of her clip. "And I would love an opportunity to audition for Princess and The Frog in person. ❤️ Here’s #AlmostThere By Anika Noni Rose." It wasn't only the Shea Butter Baby's fans who jumped in her comment section with praise and applause. Jessie Reyez, Taraji P. Henson, JoJo, Anthony Hamilton, Mack Wilds, and more also encouraged Disney to hire Ari ASAP. A live adaptation of The Princess and the Frog isn't so far-fetched, as there have been rumors that it is developing.
Disney Loves A Good Live-Action Remake
Disney has tackled its longstanding feature catalog by revisiting its blockbusters for a new generation. The Lion King, Cinderella, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, and several of their other favorites have been revamped. Additionally, we'll finally receive The Little Mermaid, starring hitmaking singer Halle Bailey in just a few months. This film has been years in the making, and Bailey is excited the world will see what she's dedicated her life to.
The arrival of The Little Mermaid has been plagued with controversy from Disney purists. They weren't happy to see a Black woman as the lead character of Ariel. he internet became a hateful place of bigoted rhetoric when the trailers were released. It's negativity that Halle has taken in stride, as she told Edition by Modern Luxury in this week's feature. “Seeing the world’s reaction to it was definitely a shock,” she told the publication. She also added, "But seeing all the babies’ reactions, all the brown and Black young girls, really tore me up emotionally.”
We're unsure where Disney stands with their rumored remake of The Princess and the Frog. However, it's clear that Ari Lennox fans want her to star. Do you think that's a good choice? If not, who would you see portraying Tiana? Watch Ari Lennox belt out a Disney favorite above. Also, check out a trailer for The Little Mermaid.
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