The next animated Disney classic to get the live-action treatment is The Little Mermaid, and here’s everything you need to know about this new version. Walt Disney Pictures has become well-known for its animated features, but those led by female characters have been especially popular. Now, in recent years, there has been a trend in the film industry to adapt animated movies into live-action versions, with Disney classics being the main targets. Following in the steps of movies like Cinderella and the Beauty and the Beast remake, the next Disney movie in line to get a live-action version is The Little Mermaid.
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Back in 1989, Walt Disney Pictures brought its own version of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. It tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human, Prince Eric. In order to be with him, she makes a deal with a powerful sea witch, Ursula, who turns her into a human but asks for her voice in exchange. The Little Mermaid was a big success upon its release, and it continues to be one of the most beloved Disney movies, so it’s not surprising that it became a target of the live-action trend.
A live-action version of The Little Mermaid was announced as in development in 2016, and after some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, it finally began filming in January 2021. Fans have already gotten a couple of looks at what The Little Mermaid will look like, and here’s everything you need to know about this live-action version of the Disney classic.
The Little Mermaid Cast
The Little Mermaid live-action cast counts on both well-established actors and newcomers who will benefit a lot from starring in a big production like this. Playing the lead role of Ariel is Halle Bailey, best known for being one half of the duo Chloe x Halle and for her role as Skylar Forster in Grown-ish, and she’s joined by Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jude Akuwudike as Grimsby (Eric’s majordomo), and Noma Dumezweni as Carlotta (Eric’s housekeeper). Rounding up the cast are the actors who will lend their voices to some of the most unforgettable The Little Mermaid characters, as are Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), Flounder (Jacob Tremblay), and Scuttle (Awkwafina).
The Little Mermaid Story
As mentioned above, The Little Mermaid is all about Princess Ariel who dreams of exploring the human world and falls in love with a prince, leading her to make a dangerous deal with Ursula. The sea witch tricks the young princess in order for her to fail to be kissed by Eric and thus having her become her slave. However, like in any other Disney classic, love always triumphs and Prince Eric and Ariel have their happily ever after. The live-action adaptation will follow the same story but with a couple of changes to The Little Mermaid that audiences remember, and it might give Ariel more agency, as hinted through set photos.
The Little Mermaid Release Date
The Little Mermaid release date is set as May 26, 2023. The Little Mermaid live-action film wrapped up production in July 2021, prompting many to believe that the film could come out somewhere in mid-2022. However, that prediction has been proven inaccurate, as a release date has been confirmed by Disney. Studios have confirmed that the remake will receive a theatrical release, but it's unsure when the film will make the jump to Disney+. As of late, Disney movies have been released exclusively to Disney+ rather than going to theaters, such as the upcoming Enchanted 2/Disenchanted. However, giving The Little Mermaid a theatrical release proves that Disney has full faith that the movie will be a box office smash hit.
The Little Mermaid Trailer
The official teaser for The Little Mermaid remake was dropped on September 9, 2022, along with information about other upcoming Disney projects. The teaser depicts Halle Bailey's Ariel swimming through her magical cove and singing parts of the character's famous song, "Part of Your World." Audiences also get a glimpse of Flounder swimming at her side. Other famous characters, such as Scuttle, Sebastian, and Ursula, have yet to be shown in their live-action form. That being said, it looks like the live-action The Little Mermaid will show an exciting new side to the famed Disney princess while maintaining the spellbinding magic of the original.