New Halle Bailey-Inspired 'Little Mermaid' Show In The Works

Halle Bailey's "The Little Mermaid" swam into theaters on May 26 and it has been dominating the box office ever since.

Despite the backlash surrounding Disney after having cast an African American actress as the Disney Princess, fans have rallied around Bailey, showing their support. Due to the instant success, Disney debuted a new meet and greet at the Disney Parks around the world featuring Ariel, inspired by the live-action film.

Now, Disney has confirmed a new television show is also in the works.

On Tuesday, June 13), Disney Branded Television announced that they have a new animated series in the works featuring Ariel, who will be inspired by Halle Bailey's Ariel in the new live-action film.

"Disney Junior’s Ariel inspired by Halle Bailey‘s Ariel" is geared towards preschoolers and will be based on the classic story of "The Little Mermaid". The show will follow an 8-year-old Ariel as she goes on new adventures in Atlantica and beyond.

Fans can expect to see familiar faces as King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder have all been confirmed to make appearaances. New characters will also make their debut as Disney confirmed Ariel’s two new best friends, merchildren named Lucia and Fernie, will be involved.

Billboard reports, "'Disney Junior’s Ariel' will also highlight the multicultural diversity of the Caribbean under cultural consultant Dr. Patrice Saunders, professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies at the University of Miami. Chair of Berklee College of Music’s ensemble department Sean Skeete will serve as the series’ Caribbean music consultant."

Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” hit theaters last weekend and stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder.

Despite backlash surrounding Halle Bailey being cast as Ariel, the Disney film topped the box office by bringing in over $95 million opening weekend. The film went on to bring in $117.5 million in its first four days in theaters in the United States.

Ahead of its theater debut, the Ariel actress had a message to all her younger fans who have never seen themselves as their favorite princesses.

“I hope that they just know that they are worthy, and we deserve to be in these spaces,” Bailey told “Good Morning America” when on the red carpet for the world premiere of the live-action “The Little Mermaid.” “And I hope they see

themselves and me on the screen.”

“I’m just grateful to be here,” she continued before naming other African-American actresses who took on the role of a Disney Princess. “There were women before me like Brandy and Anika Rose who were the blueprint for me even to be here today, so I’m just taking this moment all in,” Bailey told the ABC show.

Disney's live-action "The Little Mermaid" is currently in theaters.