Yara Shahidi Says ‘It’s About Creating A Story That So Many More People Can See Themselves In After We’ve Been Left Out For So Long’ As She Speaks On Her Role As Disney’s First Black Tinker Bell

Yara Shahidi

Yara Shahidi Says ‘It’s About Creating A Story That So Many More People Can See Themselves In After We’ve Been Left Out For So Long’ As She Speaks On Her Role As Disney’s First Black Tinker Bell

Yara Shahidi is explaining why she took on the iconic role of Tinker Bell in the new “Peter Pan & Wendy.”

As you may know, the 23-year-old actress portrays the tiny fairy Tinker Bell in the upcoming Disney live-action movie.

Yara Shahidi

In a new interview, Yara Shahidi opened up about the casting of the new “Peter Pan” film and her decision to take on the Tinker Bell role, making her the first person of color to land the part from the animated classic.

While speaking on the upcoming film, the “Grown-ish” star shared that the diversity in the movie displays meaningful representation. Yara Shahidi said,

“I talked to the director, David Lowery, about why he and the higher-ups at Disney wanted to retell this story and I loved his response. They wanted to bring some new fun to this classic but also give us the fairy tale we deserve.”

She added,

“It’s evident they’re not just popping Black and Brown folks in the cast for the sake of updating the story. Instead, it’s about creating a story that so many more people can see themselves in after we’ve been left out for so long.”

Yara Shahidi

Director David Lowery reportedly said in a statement that,

“we set out to craft a film that honors both the original J.M. Barrie text and Walt Disney’s animated adaptation; we wanted to invigorate our retelling with emotional sincerity, an open heart and a grand yearning for adventure.”

He added,

“Hundreds of incredible artists spent many years bringing this film to the screen. I’m excited for audiences to see their work, to go on this ride and to rediscover an evergreen tale from a new perspective.”

“Peter Pan & Wendy” premieres on Disney+ on April 28.

What are your thoughts on Yara Shahidi’s remarks? Will you be tuning into “Peter Pan & Wendy”? Tell us below! 

[Sources: 1, 2]