Disney is hell-bent on making strides in diversifying its classic protagonists and giving a new twist to the predominantly white characters that it had in its repertoire. According to the latest report published in an online portal, Yara Shahidi is all set to play Tinker Bell in David Lowery’s Peter Pan and Wendy. This is the first time a person of colour is filling in a role that traditionally featured white actresses and follows in the footsteps of Halle Bailey who is set to play Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
Yara will star opposite Jude Law who will play Captain Hook. Alexander Molony plays Peter Pan and Ever Anderson plays Wendy. Lowery will direct as well as co-write the script with Toby Halbrooks. Jim Whitaker is producing the film. The film will not have a direct-to-web release and is eyeing a theatrical screening. Yara also took to Instagram to announce her casting and captioned her picture, "lettssssgooooo #Tinkerbell."
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Yara also shared a fan made graphic of a coloured Tinker Bell and wrote, "Thank you for all of the love. It, truly, means so much to me I’m excited for this next adventure! Artist: @alexcollectsofficial."
The studio’s 1953 animated classic is still the most successful adaptation of JM Barrie’s best-selling novel Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up and stays in the mythical island of Neverland. Several adaptations have taken place of the novel but none have been successful enough to have a lasting impression. The novel has also spurred several animated series.
Tinker Bell is a fairy and Peter’s closest friend was famously played by Julia Roberts in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation Hook.
(Source: Deadline)
