After watching Halle perform "Where Is the Love?" at the 2019 Grammys, director Rob Marshall personally asked her to try out for Ariel.

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristenharris1/halle-bailey-facts

‘Chicago’ Director Rob Marshall Looks Back on His Bold Approach to the Adaptation: ‘I Was Sweating Bullets’thewrap.

Source: https://biztoc.com/x/497a619af9b8b74c?ref=ff

Directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by David Magee, adheres to its source material in important ways.

Source: https://observer.com/2023/05/the-little-mermaid-review-one-of-disneys-best-live-action-reimaginings/

However, Rob Marshall is proud that the casting will leave an impression on young girls and boys of colour.

Source: https://www.koimoi.com/hollywood-news/the-little-mermaids-casting-a-woman-of-colour-in-halle-bailey-controversy-addressed-by-rob-marshall-says-i-thought-wow-that-really-feels-like-its/

“It’s about her experiences the moment she hits land,” director Rob Marshall tells Empire.

Source: https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1274262-the-little-mermaid-director-details-ariels-new-song-for-the-first-time

McCarthy credits Rob Marshall, the Oscar-nominated directing veteran (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) who first boarded this starry ship in 2018, with making “Mermaid” work.

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/05/23/labor-of-love-melissa-mccarthy-halle-bailey-splash-on-making-of-the-little-mermaid/

The Little Mermaid has just received this luxury treatment, with Rob Marshall directing Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Source: https://centralrecorder.com/viewers-react-as-they-watch-the-little-mermaid-fight-scenes-in-theater/

The movie—which was directed by Rob Marshall and opened over Memorial Day weekend to $118.6 million in North America—was one of the top five highest-grossing films of the summer domestically, with nearly $300 million.

Source: https://comicbookmovie.com/disney/the-little-mermaid-becomes-second-biggest-disney-movie-premiere-ever-with-16-million-views-in-5-days-a205650