Disney is breaking new ground by welcoming its first-ever black live-action prince.
This comes nearly a century after the entertainment powerhouse released its first feature-length film, Snow White, in 1937, and over 60 years since it began making live-action movies, beginning with Treasure Island in 1950.
However, until now, there has been a startling lack of representation in its leading roles for men of color.
This will change in the upcoming movie the Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, which tells the story of rebellious teens living in the shadow of their sister who is next in line to the throne.
And it will star, This Is Us actor Niles Fitch. He plays the "charismatic and self-centered" Prince Tuma in the film, whose "super-human ability is vital to the team's success."
Watch the trailer for season one of This Is Us below:The 18-year-old actor announced the news on Twitter with stills from the film that were captioned: "Welcome Disney's first Black prince."
Prince Tuma is a member of the society that the movie's protagonist Sam (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) joins. According to Entertainment Weekly, the society is made up of "gifted young recruits who are charged with keeping the world safe."
Fitch emphasized his excitement about the role by sharing a number of stories on social media congratulating him.
Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman, Fitch’s co-star in This Is Us, celebrated the news by describing him as a "role model".
He said: "SENDING A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS COOL GUY @nilesfitch he is making history as @disneyplus first black live-action prince. I'm so proud of you!! Thanks for being an awesome role model to look up to."
The news was also shared by social media users, who said it was a long time coming.
One Twitter user remarked: "While it's amazing that there's the first black prince in a @Disney live-action movie. I can't help but feel that in 2020 the list of 'the first black' anything should be shorter. Diversity should just BE at this point."
With any luck, Fitch will be the first of many black Disney princes.
