A little fairy dust and a lot of Black Girl Magic!
Yara Shahidi is making history as the first Black Tinkerbell in Disney’s newest live-action adaptation, Variety reports.
“Peter Pan and Wendy” is the newest adaptation of the classic 1953 Disney movie “Peter Pan” about a boy who never grows up. Shahidi will play the beloved Tinkerbell, a fairy who guides Peter with her magic throughout his adventures. The “grown-ish” actor will join the cast alongside Jude Law (Captain Hook), Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), and budding actress Ever Anderson (Wendy).
Shahidi recently launched a production company in partnership with ABC Studios. She is on their hit show “black-ish,” and the spinoff on Freeform, “grown-ish,” which she produces. Disney is attempting to diversify its casts, given the current cultural climate. Recently, they cast singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” and Niles Fitch as the first live-action Black prince in the “Secret Society of Second Born Royals.”
Disney has been rolling out a ton of new content, recently releasing a live-action adaptation of “Mulan.” Shahidi took to Instagram to share a new Black Tinkerbell sketch and thank her fans for all of the support. “Thank you all for all of the love. It truly means so much to me. I’m excited for this next adventure,” she wrote.
No word yet on when production begins, but we are excited!
Congratulations, Yara!
Photo Courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images