I think there's many reasons these remakes are so attractive to Disney, for one thing it's about investing value into their existing IPs which is why they'll do a smash hit like Lion King, but also try out a less-regarded brand like Pete's Dragon. I think it's all about building a cycle around their existing IPs. Like, remember when Disney VHS/DVD movies went into moratorium and then they "came back" they were huge again? I don't think they care about making "classics" — I think what they want is for Little Mermaid merch to hold its value until enough time passes for the next generation when they remake it again in god-knows-what new form.
As for the casting choice? If politics is involved in casting a non-white performer it is because the politics happen to align themselves to marketing and profitability. Disney's agenda is their brand, that's it. Performers like Halle Bailey and Zendaya (and a bunch of other young performers I'm too old to know) are in Disney's bullpen because they're part of a carefully constructed architecture for future Disney. They're likely insanely super talented for their age and they're basically groomed for years to maintain a "Disney" image. It's not "PC" for its own sake — the plot is much much thicker than that.
As for the casting choice? If politics is involved in casting a non-white performer it is because the politics happen to align themselves to marketing and profitability. Disney's agenda is their brand, that's it. Performers like Halle Bailey and Zendaya (and a bunch of other young performers I'm too old to know) are in Disney's bullpen because they're part of a carefully constructed architecture for future Disney. They're likely insanely super talented for their age and they're basically groomed for years to maintain a "Disney" image. It's not "PC" for its own sake — the plot is much much thicker than that.
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