The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple film star Halle Bailey has joined the cast of the upcoming movie musical from director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and producer-music maker Pharrell Williams, according to a report in Variety. No release date is set for the untitled film.
As previously announced, the film will also star Kelvin Harrison, Jr. and 2024 Best Featured Actress Oscar winner (and Broadway alum) Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen scribe Steven Levenson has co-written the script with Martin Hynes.
Details are scarce on the project, which is reportedly a coming-of-age story set in 1977 Virginia Beach, where Williams grew up.
Bailey is one-half of internet music duo Chloe x Halle, but has since broken out on her own as a film actor. After playing Sky Forster on Grown-ish, Bailey starred as Ariel in the 2023 live action version of Disney's The Little Mermaid, placing her mark on the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken score. The same year, she played Young Nettie in the screen version of Broadway's The Color Purple and co-wrote one of its new songs.
Mimi Valdés will produce with Williams through i am OTHER, alongside Gil Netter for Gil Netter Productions.