Part 4/8:
Race Swapping and Audience Reception:
The live-action film's race swap—Ariel portrayed as a character of different ethnicity—was heavily critiqued. Despite some supporters seeing it as progressive, a significant portion of the audience felt alienated or outright opposed, especially given the film’s box office failure. Interestingly, the sequel and spin-offs are still moving forward, illustrating Disney's focus on exploiting this reimagined universe regardless of financial performance.
Behind-the-Scenes Politics: