Disney has updated its casting call for The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure to remove gendered-language for the roles of Prince Eric and Ariel respectively.
The Walt Disney company stirred up controversy earlier this year when its casting call for the new version of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction Voyage of The Little Mermaid went viral on social media. The original casting notice called for performers of any gender for the two main roles, including anatomical men and women and performers who identify with a gender that differs from their biology.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid via DFBGuide YouTube
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However, Disney has now struck that language from the casting call notice, offering no official word on whether they’re casting men or women in these roles.
The change was first noticed by That Park Place investigative journalist Jonas J. Campbell.
A tweet from That Park Place’s Jonas J. Campbell showing an update to gender requirements for Disney’s The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure – X, @JonasJCampbell
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The original casting call, pictured below, very clearly made it a point to note that it was seeking biological performers or performers who identify with a gender that differs from their birth.
A casting call for The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure at Walt Disney World – X, @JonasJCampbell
In the new casting notice, note how the language has changed with a major omission.
An updated casting call for The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure that calls for only anatomical men and women – X, @JonasJCampbell
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It seems from these actions that Disney is still seeking a “gender inclusive” cast for this children’s theme park show, they’re just being less open about it now.
It wouldn’t be the first time Disney has stepped outside of traditional concepts when casting in its theme parks. That Park Place broke a story earlier this year that The Evil Queen at a Walt Disney World restaurant was apparently being played by a biological male.
A family has reached out to That Park Place claiming they spent over $300 on a character meet and greet dinner at Walt Disney World… only to discover the Evil Queen character was almost certainly a biological male. This represents the first time we’ve heard of Disney using a… pic.twitter.com/jHRt64wl4O
— wdwpro (@wdwpro1) April 23, 2024
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Additionally, the company created major waves when it employed dudes to be “fairy godmothers in training” at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a princess makeover salon for little girls ages three to twelve.
Disney has a man in a dress working in the dress store for little girls at Disneyland. This is who Disney wants girls to see when they first walk in to pick out a dress. pic.twitter.com/Ta2dwyAaSa
— Jason Jones (@jonesville) May 30, 2023
We’ve received reports recently that Disney is trying to “calm the noise” around identity politics within the company in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory in an attempt to win conservative families back.
However, it would appear that quieting the noise has nothing to do with actually changing the way the company does things. Rather, they’re simply not being as upfront and brazenly open about it anymore.
What do you think about Disney hiding this Little Mermaid casting call information? Is the quiet part Will you bring your family on a Walt Disney World vacation anytime soon? Will Disney ever stop inserting gender ideology into family theme parks? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
I’ve been watching the early years of Family Guy. I’d love to see a vignette, handled by that time in life, about this mermaid and the next snow white, in one of McFarland’s tragic endings.