The new signing of the company Disney has presented this Thursday in Madrid his latest film, The little Mermaidin which he plays King Triton, father of the protagonist. Javier Bardem He has treated the assembled media very sympathetically, whom he has fired with a laugh with a “Long live the Republic!”
The political inclination of Penélope Cruz’s husband is no secret, hence the irony and grace of seeing him represent a king, even if he is mythological and in a Disney movie. The photographers have asked Bardem for a “king’s gesture” for the images, to which he has replied: “No, no, that’s only for movies.” When saying goodbye to him, a reporter shouted “Thank you, Your Majesty, the best king we have”, and the actor broke down: “Long live the republic”.
Javier Bardem introduces his character King Triton in The Little Mermaid. to the cry of “long live the Republic”.???????????pic.twitter.com/4kZTgXPOPN
— Pedro Otamendi (@PedroOtamendi) May 18, 2023
The moment has been captured in a thirty-second video that has already gone around social networks where, as usual, there are opinions for all tastes about Bardem’s reaction: from those who see it as a nice gesture without intentions hidden until those who point out that he takes advantage of any opportunity to insert his particular political wedge.
Bardem, who will receive the Donostia Award for his entire career at the San Sebastian Festival next September, now plays King Triton in The Little Mermaid, Disney’s new live-action remake, which will hit theaters next Friday 26 of May. “This review captures the heart of that story, of that original Andersen story, but revisits it and translates it into something that is important for new generations to see, the world we live in. A world where there is inclusion and a great cultural diversity. And it is important that they see it that way because that world is what they are going to know and what we should celebrate. We must create bridges between that, not blow them up,” said Bardem.
The man from Madrid has ignored the criticism and controversy that the film drags on for having chosen a black protagonist: “All that happened when we were filming and we ignored them because it is something archaic. We got to work, which is what we have to do The best response to that hate is the magic of the movie itself.” And he has defended his partner, Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel: “We have the opportunity to see, listen, feel and enjoy this woman called Halle Bailey in all her greatness. In addition to being an extraordinary actress and an exceptional singer , she has a magic as a human being that crosses the screen that makes you feel that there is only one possible Ariel in the world, she … And that’s why they chose her, of course.”