Yara Shahidi To Play Tinkerbell In Disney’s Live-Action ‘Peter Pan’ Pic!
According to Deadline, “Grownish” star Yara Shahidi is set to play Tinkerbell in David Lowery’s Peter Pan and Wendy. That’s right!
Shahidi will be joining Jude Law, who will play Captain Hook, as well as Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson, who will play the title characters. Lowery is signed on to direct the Disney project and also co-wrote the script with Toby Halbrooks. Deadline reports that Jim Whitaker will be producing.
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Disney’s latest move to diversify its classic character comes shortly after they set singer Halle Bailey to play The Little Mermaid. This upcoming Tinkerbell project featuring Shahidi, 20, would mark the first time a person of color has filled the role that has traditionally featured a white actress. Sources tell the news site that the release is expected to be theatrical and not go the streaming route on Disney +.
In recent years, Disney has switched things up with their original films, allowing any actor to play a role that was originally limited to Caucasian talent. Deadline notes that “With Tinkerbell, the studio and Lowery wanted to do the same from the get-go and quickly pursued Shahidi, whose star has been on the rise for some time.”
Following the good news, fans quickly took to social media to congratulate the star. “Blackish” and “Grownish” creator and actor Kenya Barris wrote on Instagram:
“BOOOOOM!!!! THIS IS HUGE!!!! And Pitch Perfect casting for the little sprite I’ve seen flying around set all these years!!! Sooo proud and happy for my FAMILY!!! #grownish”
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