Walt Disney Pictures has been pushing forward with heaps of “live-action” remakes of classic films from their extensive film library, and one of the more recent attempts has been a modern spin on the hit 1989 film “The Little Mermaid.” The film wasn’t just popular with kids but made a strong impression on adults as well, as it ended up winning Oscar statues for Score and Best Song. This makes sense why Disney recruited singer Halle Bailey to play the live-action version of the mermaid princess, Ariel, along with hiring veteran director Rob Marshall (“Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides“) to helm the musical after tackling feature adaptations of “Chicago” and “Into The Woods.”
We’ve all been curious about the project and finally landed our first look at the live-action remake thanks to the studio’s panel at D23 Expo and the very first teaser trailer.
The cast assembled for the modern remake includes folks such as Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs voices Sebastian The Crab, Jacob Tremblay voices Flounder, Awkwafina voices Scuttle, Javier Bardem in the role of King Triton, and the evil sea witch Ursula is played by Melissa McCarthy.
If you’re unfamiliar with the original animated film loosely based on the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen, here is the film’s synopsis:
A rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which is forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.
Disney has set “The Little Mermaid” for a release date of May 26, 2023. Watch the first teaser trailer below.
