@xarvos and @schratze, none of the biology makes sense if you think critically. Fair skin kinda makes sense because mermaid are deep sea creatures, but they don’t have gills, their eye sight is comparable to that of humen, and their body shape has horrible fluid dynamics.
People losing their mind over live action casting reminds me of Snow White and the Huntsman and I can’t help but wonder if it’s a race thing or a beauty thing. The difference is that Kristen Stewart is pretty but looks like she’s constipated all the time and doesn’t have an acting range, while Halle Bailey doesn’t have the most attractive face but can sing really well (remember it’s going to be a musical).
At least they’re not making Emma Watson sing again, but I wonder why they can’t have actors lip sync like the good old days. If the actress must sing her number, I can’t think of a safer choice than Halle among mainstream vocalists (I don’t watch opera, sorry) around that age in the anglosphere apart from her sister Chloe and Ariana Grande, both are more expensive for a live action milking attempt.
I know I know, it sucks that visual attractiveness is so deeply ingrained in our brain, but that’s a-whole-nother can of worm to be opened.