American actress, model and activist, Yara Sayeh Shahidi recently confirmed her role as Tinkerbell in the live-action remake of Peter Pan and Wendy. The 20-year-old will soon join the cast which features Jude Law as Captain Hook, Alexander Molony as Peter Pan and Ever Anderson as Wendy.
Shahidi took to Instagram to confirm the role by sharing an animated drawing of her as Tinkerbell made by the artist @alexcollectsofficial with the caption: “Thank you for all the love. It, truly, means so much to me. I’m excited for this new adventure!”
Best known for her role in Grown-ish, ABC’s Black-ish, The Sun is also a Star, Imagine That and more, Yara will break the norm by portraying Tinkerbell, being a person of color. Fans are incredibly pleased with the casting that welcomes inclusivity especially after Disney also cast Halle Bailey to play Ariel in the ‘Little Mermaid’.
Disney’s reboot of the film is adapted from the J.M. Barrie’s novel which will be directed by David Lowery who co-wrote the screenplay with Toby Halbrooks.
The J.M. Barrie novel about Peter Pan, a boy who wouldn’t age and would whisk the children in the town, away to a magical world of Neverland, has been adapted quite incredibly by Disney in 1953 with an animated classic, which remains iconic to this day. Although multiple adaptations of Peter Pan have been tried over the years, this one particularly will mark the first time a person of color has filled the role!
Sources have revealed that the release is expected to take a theatrical route and most likely not only be streamed by Disney+.