The Little Mermaid: Everything You Need to Know About the Live-Action Remake 🧜♀️
Are you ready to go under the sea with Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid? The highly anticipated film is set to hit theaters on May 26, 2023, and it promises to be a magical adventure for fans of the animated classic. Here are some of the latest news and updates about the film that you don't want to miss. 🐠
Halle Bailey Shines as Ariel 🌟
The star of the film is Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel, the curious and rebellious mermaid who dreams of becoming human. Bailey is best known as one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle, and she also stars in the TV show Grown-ish. She was handpicked by director Rob Marshall, who praised her for her “rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice.” Bailey has received rave reviews from critics and audiences who attended the premiere, with many calling her performance “note-perfect”, “sheer magic”, and “star-making”. She also sings a stunning rendition of “Part of Your World”, one of the iconic songs from the original film. 🎶
Melissa McCarthy Dives Deep Into Her Ursula Character 🐙
Another standout in the film is Melissa McCarthy, who plays Ursula, the wicked sea witch who tricks Ariel into trading her voice for legs. McCarthy is known for her hilarious roles in comedies like Bridesmaids and Spy, but she also shows her dark side in this film. She said she started to love her character after exploring her backstory and motivations. She also revealed that she was inspired by drag queens for her look and performance, especially Divine, who was the original inspiration for Ursula's design in the animated film. McCarthy steals scenes with her charisma and humor, as well as her powerful rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls”. 😈
The Film Features Four New Songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda 🎵
The Little Mermaid live-action remake not only features the classic songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman from the animated film, but also four new songs composed by Menken with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is a huge fan of The Little Mermaid, and he even named his son Sebastian after the crab character. He collaborated with Menken to create new songs that fit the story and the characters, such as “The World Above” for Ariel, “Beyond My Wildest Dreams” for Ursula, “In Harmony” for King Triton and his daughters, and “Waiting in the Wings” for Prince Eric. The new songs add more depth and emotion to the film, and they are sure to become new favorites for fans. 🙌
Sources:
Ariel and Sebastian Head “Under the Sea” in New ‘The Little Mermaid' Clip
‘The Little Mermaid': First Reactions from the Premiere
