Entertainment
Sofia Coppola's 'The Little Mermaid' Needs a Gender-Bending Cast
So word on the street is that androgynous model and superhero to the gender fluidity movement, Andrej Pejic will play a mermaid sister of Ariel's in Sofia Coppola's live-action adaptation of that classic tale, The Little Mermaid . It's a very exciting and important development indeed!
It also, naturally, got us thinking: who else should be cast? After all, this retelling will likely not see talking shrimp and dancing crabs — there will be people in those roles. And really, it is a story about transforming your current self into who you really truly feel yourself to be: and what better way to do that than capitalize on gender and sexual identity? All Ariel wants to be is part of that world, after all.
Let's give her some like-minded friends and give this classic story an LGBT spin.
Harmony Santana as Ariel
Trans actress Harmony Santana is an incredible dramatic talent, and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in Gun Hill Road. Why not cast her as the star of the film? Hello, breakout role.
Jamie Clayton as Flounder
Jamie Clayton is a gorgeous trans woman with several roles — including one on HBO’s Hung — under her belt. We’d love to see her have a little bit of fun with the goofily adorable role of Flounder.
Carmen Carrera as Sebastian
Who better to bring a little bit of Latin flavor to the role of Ariel’s bestie than trans star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Carmen Carrera, eh?
Tilda Swinton as Triton
SHE IS ALREADY A QUEEN SO THIS IS PERFECT THE END.
Eddie Izzard as Ursula
Honestly we don’t have anything to add here other than this might be our best, most brilliant idea. We’d even call the casting of the self-proclaimed transvestite inspiring. He would nail the shit out of “Poor, Unfortunate Souls,” would he not?
David Bowie as Flotsam & Jetsam
Imagine for a second a world where there’s not one but TWO David Bowies floating around in the water as delightfully evil henchmen. One Ziggy Stardust the other, say, Halloween Jack? Admit it: YOU ARE SO ON BOARD.
Samira Wiley as Princess Erika
Our love for Samira Wiley and her portrayal of Poussey on Orange is The New Black knows no bounds. She is strong, tough, and has the emotional depth necessary to play the other half of this forbidden love relationship.
Laverne Cox as Erik's Mother, the Queen
The trans icon has done so much for the push for wider acceptance of gender and sexual identity, we decided she deserved, 100 percent, to be in this film. Sure the Queen was never mentioned in the first film but who cares? Princess Erika’s going to need a strong force in her life and there’s no one better than Cox.
RuPaul as Erika's Father, the King
RuPaul is a force. RuPaul is the ultimate example of loving yourself and not giving a fuck about what anyone else says. RuPaul for the ruler of this realm, for sure.
