I think it sad how Zendaya lost out on roles that would have been a perfect fit for her, because people had an erroneous (in some cases) fixation on ethnicity. Some deranged, allegedly “black” people whined that she was allegedly not “black enough” to portray the singer/dancer/actress, Aaliiyah! It was the strangest “criticism” since Zendaya and Aaliyah have similar coloring. Moreover, Aaliyah was a slender vegetarian and again – a dancer, singer, actress. And Zendaya was/is a slender vegetarian and a dancer/singer/actress. They had much in common. Iy was bizarre how people pretended they were not alike! Zendaya would have been Perfect – but a few people ignorantly wagging their tongues, sadly led Zendaya to back out of the project!! I hope people can refrain from trying to keep her from getting another role she deserves: that of Moana.
Zendaya worked for years on Disney TV shows and made the company a boatload of money while only getting paid peanuts herself (especially on SHAKE IT UP, a certified HIT).
Zendaya even worked hard to learn ballroom dancing – Well – and contributed massively to the must-see appeal of her season on Dancing With the Stars.
It’s time DISNEY gives her the Lead in a Major Motion Picture she so richly deserves – and compensates her with pay commensurate with her real (priceless really) worth.
I agree. It would be amazing if we could keep with the theme and keep a Polynesian actress. Maybe Keisha Castle-Hughes, though she might be too old now for the part. idk maybe a newcomer.
Of course, Zendaya would also be great in the role of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog. Only problem is she’d spend most of the film AS A FROG (unless they could figure out how to show her as human in the “background” with a frog representation in the foreground at the same time – or something.
Of course, Zendaya would also be great in the role of Tiana in The Princess and The Frog. The only problem for fans is that she would spend most of the film AS A FROG – unless they come up with a way to show her as human throughout in the background with her as a frog in the foreground – or something. Zendaya’s done voicework on animated films before, but it would be nice to see her human self in the entirety of a film in which she’s the lead.
What about someone actually Polynesian? What about “Auli’i Cravalho”, who ACTUALLY VOICED THE CHARACTER!! An she looks close to her character anyways!!! Once again Disney is rubbing up on that Pander Stone and picking someone neither Hawaiian or Polynesian.
She declined it because she wanted a girl who could more accurately represent Moana’s ethnic features. I personally, as a Pasifika, would not have minded Auli’i but I love what she’s striving for. My people are severely underrepresented and it’d be great if Disney could give the opportunity to an indigenous (instead of, y’know, Zendaya, Gabrielly, or Agudong).
Read the article again. Auli’i Cravalho is a Producer for the live-action Moana! She apparently opted to Produce instead of trying to both produce And act – as lead. Again, Zendaya would be great. She even has “Asian” teeth. LOL Beautiful. Black and white make Asian – from prehistoric times to the present day. Clearly.
I don’t agree. Auli’i Cravalho left the role BECAUSE she wanted someone who could more accurately represent Moana than her. Neither Zendaya, Any Gabrielly, Siena Agudong are pacific islander. As a child of the South Pacific, there’s nothing more I want than my people to be represented in film/media, but done with accuracy and respect!! Please listen to my voice.
It Should Be Someone of Polynesian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian. They Deserve Representation /Zendaya is Amazing But Not For Moana And Not For Tiana Because She’s Half Black/Id Love To See Chyna McClain/KeKe Palmer in a Role Like That/Someone Who Isn’t Racially Ambiguous
?! Think about what you’re actually suggesting!: Brilliant, hardworking, extremely popular Zendaya has to allegedly Wait to Only play a lead character that is a mixed-race person of African/European ancestry?! That makes no sense. Zendaya should be able to play Any part – particularly that of a Fictitious person – or Cartoon! Especially when her Face Looks exactly Like that of the cartoon character, Moana! And the “ambiguousness” of her features should broaden her role choices – not limit them! Keke Palmer is great. I’ve admired her acting skill and lovely personality since Akeelah and the Bee, but DISNEY is a Business. They put Emma Watson (Harry Potter) in Beauty and the Beast, in large measure, Because of her popularity, and reaped the profits because of it. Zendaya is deservedly Popular and would bring in the Box Office for Moana – OR Tiana!
I like Zendaya – but yeah I’m with you. They should’ve given the role to Auli’i Cravalho. She’s beautiful and won’t disappoint with it comes to singing the songs. I couldn’t stand Emma Watson in beauty and the beast – she can’t sing and it sounded so auto tuned. But they said anne Hathaway was “too old” even tho she was YOUNGER than the guy who played Gaston in the live action movie. I heard they thought Auli’i Cravalho was also “too old” to play a 16 yo even tho she could totally pull it off. I just pray moana doesn’t end up like beauty and the beast cause the singing totally distracted me from the movie. Belle is supposed to have a beautiful voice. Smh.
Don’t get me wrong, Zendaya is a great actress, I especially love her in Spiderman and The Greatest Showman, but I really think they should get someone who is really Polynesian or Hawaiin.
Okay but Zendaya isn’t Polynesian or Pasifika… Us Polynesians need real representation and not anyone with curly hair 🤣 I think Lela Tonga would be the perfect role because she looks just like Moana and she can sing!!!
Representation is great. But not at the expense of rational, objective considerations. DISNEY is a Business. And Zendaya is hugely popular. DISNEY had a wonderfully successful Live-Action Princess movie in Beauty And The Beast when they cast hugely popular Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER) in the lead role. Zendaya LOOKS Polynesian – almost Exactly like the lovely, round-faced cartoon character (and hair is probably the easiest thing to replicate. Zendaya wears it straight sometimes, anyway). DISNEY owes Zendaya! And she would do the role justice!
Comments for Zendaya Pegged To Become Next Iconic Disney Princess
Seymour
Zendaya is great but how about someone who is Polynesian? Too obvious?
Pen Clearwater3D
I think it sad how Zendaya lost out on roles that would have been a perfect fit for her, because people had an erroneous (in some cases) fixation on ethnicity. Some deranged, allegedly “black” people whined that she was allegedly not “black enough” to portray the singer/dancer/actress, Aaliiyah! It was the strangest “criticism” since Zendaya and Aaliyah have similar coloring. Moreover, Aaliyah was a slender vegetarian and again – a dancer, singer, actress. And Zendaya was/is a slender vegetarian and a dancer/singer/actress. They had much in common. Iy was bizarre how people pretended they were not alike! Zendaya would have been Perfect – but a few people ignorantly wagging their tongues, sadly led Zendaya to back out of the project!! I hope people can refrain from trying to keep her from getting another role she deserves: that of Moana.
Zendaya worked for years on Disney TV shows and made the company a boatload of money while only getting paid peanuts herself (especially on SHAKE IT UP, a certified HIT).
Zendaya even worked hard to learn ballroom dancing – Well – and contributed massively to the must-see appeal of her season on Dancing With the Stars.
It’s time DISNEY gives her the Lead in a Major Motion Picture she so richly deserves – and compensates her with pay commensurate with her real (priceless really) worth.
I.w.
This is a Polynesian princess. She’s not even a lick of any type of islander. So please stop!
elizabeth
I agree. It would be amazing if we could keep with the theme and keep a Polynesian actress. Maybe Keisha Castle-Hughes, though she might be too old now for the part. idk maybe a newcomer.
gjjfhj
huh pegged???
Pen Clearwater3D
Zendaya!!
Pen Clearwater3D
Zendaya is brilliantly multi-talented and will be perfect in the role!
Janeen
YES SHE WOULD BE PERFECT!!!
sarah lincoln
Of course, Zendaya would also be great in the role of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog. Only problem is she’d spend most of the film AS A FROG (unless they could figure out how to show her as human in the “background” with a frog representation in the foreground at the same time – or something.
sarah lincoln
Of course, Zendaya would also be great in the role of Tiana in The Princess and The Frog. The only problem for fans is that she would spend most of the film AS A FROG – unless they come up with a way to show her as human throughout in the background with her as a frog in the foreground – or something. Zendaya’s done voicework on animated films before, but it would be nice to see her human self in the entirety of a film in which she’s the lead.
Chris V
What about someone actually Polynesian? What about “Auli’i Cravalho”, who ACTUALLY VOICED THE CHARACTER!! An she looks close to her character anyways!!! Once again Disney is rubbing up on that Pander Stone and picking someone neither Hawaiian or Polynesian.
Hi
I think she probably must’ve declined the role since I cant imagine it wasn’t offered to her. Also did you mean to put her name in quotations?
Kailani
She declined it because she wanted a girl who could more accurately represent Moana’s ethnic features. I personally, as a Pasifika, would not have minded Auli’i but I love what she’s striving for. My people are severely underrepresented and it’d be great if Disney could give the opportunity to an indigenous (instead of, y’know, Zendaya, Gabrielly, or Agudong).
Anna
I love Zendaya, but I think it should be a Polynesian actress playing Moana. It would be a slap in the face to their culture to take that from them.
sarah lincoln
Read the article again. Auli’i Cravalho is a Producer for the live-action Moana! She apparently opted to Produce instead of trying to both produce And act – as lead. Again, Zendaya would be great. She even has “Asian” teeth. LOL Beautiful. Black and white make Asian – from prehistoric times to the present day. Clearly.
Zazzy
I like this choice, but it is up to Disney in the end. But Zendaya would get my approval 👍👍
Hi
Well I think Auli’i Cravalho probably declined sing I can’t imagine they didn’t offer her the role. But why did you put her name in quotations?
Hi
Well I think Auli’i Cravalho probably declined sing I can’t imagine they didn’t offer her the role. But why did you put her name in quotations?
Kailani
I don’t agree. Auli’i Cravalho left the role BECAUSE she wanted someone who could more accurately represent Moana than her. Neither Zendaya, Any Gabrielly, Siena Agudong are pacific islander. As a child of the South Pacific, there’s nothing more I want than my people to be represented in film/media, but done with accuracy and respect!! Please listen to my voice.
Mikel Sigmon
It Should Be Someone of Polynesian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian. They Deserve Representation /Zendaya is Amazing But Not For Moana And Not For Tiana Because She’s Half Black/Id Love To See Chyna McClain/KeKe Palmer in a Role Like That/Someone Who Isn’t Racially Ambiguous
sarah lincoln
?! Think about what you’re actually suggesting!: Brilliant, hardworking, extremely popular Zendaya has to allegedly Wait to Only play a lead character that is a mixed-race person of African/European ancestry?! That makes no sense. Zendaya should be able to play Any part – particularly that of a Fictitious person – or Cartoon! Especially when her Face Looks exactly Like that of the cartoon character, Moana! And the “ambiguousness” of her features should broaden her role choices – not limit them! Keke Palmer is great. I’ve admired her acting skill and lovely personality since Akeelah and the Bee, but DISNEY is a Business. They put Emma Watson (Harry Potter) in Beauty and the Beast, in large measure, Because of her popularity, and reaped the profits because of it. Zendaya is deservedly Popular and would bring in the Box Office for Moana – OR Tiana!
Mona
I like Zendaya – but yeah I’m with you. They should’ve given the role to Auli’i Cravalho. She’s beautiful and won’t disappoint with it comes to singing the songs. I couldn’t stand Emma Watson in beauty and the beast – she can’t sing and it sounded so auto tuned. But they said anne Hathaway was “too old” even tho she was YOUNGER than the guy who played Gaston in the live action movie. I heard they thought Auli’i Cravalho was also “too old” to play a 16 yo even tho she could totally pull it off. I just pray moana doesn’t end up like beauty and the beast cause the singing totally distracted me from the movie. Belle is supposed to have a beautiful voice. Smh.
Mari
Don’t get me wrong, Zendaya is a great actress, I especially love her in Spiderman and The Greatest Showman, but I really think they should get someone who is really Polynesian or Hawaiin.
Ben
Disney needs to quit action movies while they are still ahead.
People are not coming to see these movies Disney needs to go back to animation or go bankrupt.
Maira
I have to say that they should give that role to Zendaya she is a very talented individual and she deserves the role.
KK
alicia wilmington
Zazzy, I heartily concur! Zendaya for Moana!
Sinalei
Okay but Zendaya isn’t Polynesian or Pasifika… Us Polynesians need real representation and not anyone with curly hair 🤣 I think Lela Tonga would be the perfect role because she looks just like Moana and she can sing!!!
sarah lincoln
Representation is great. But not at the expense of rational, objective considerations. DISNEY is a Business. And Zendaya is hugely popular. DISNEY had a wonderfully successful Live-Action Princess movie in Beauty And The Beast when they cast hugely popular Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER) in the lead role. Zendaya LOOKS Polynesian – almost Exactly like the lovely, round-faced cartoon character (and hair is probably the easiest thing to replicate. Zendaya wears it straight sometimes, anyway). DISNEY owes Zendaya! And she would do the role justice!
Comments are closed.