Next month, audiences will finally be a 'part of that world' with the live-action film adaptation of Disney's The Little Mermaid arriving in theaters May 26, starring Halle Bailey (Grown-ish, The Color Purple) as Ariel. Walt Disney Studios has released a new video featurette with interviews from cast and creative team members like Halle Bailey, Alan Menken, and Lin-Manual Miranda discussing the film, and new clips and sneak peeks from the upcoming release. Watch the video above.
Joining Bailey onscreen is Jonah Hauer-King (Little Women, The Last Photograph) as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) as Ursula, Javier Bardem (Skyfall, No Country for Old Men) as King Triton, Jude Akuwudike (Beasts of No Nation, The Tempest) as Grimsby, Lorena Andrea (Warrior Nun) as new character Perla, and Kajsa Mohammar (Misbehaviour) as new character Karina, with Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) voicing Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay (Room) voicing Flounder, and Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) voicing Scuttle.
Oscar-nominated Chicago and Into the Woods director Rob Marshall helms the remake, penned by Jane Goldman and David Magee. Check out the film's first teaser trailer here.
The Little Mermaid is based on the original story by Hans Christian Andersen and will feature songs from the 1989 animated Disney feature written by Oscar winner Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda have also collaborated on new material for the live-action remake.
Disney brought The Little Mermaid to the Broadway stage in 2007. The musical replaced another Disney show, Beauty and the Beast, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it began previews November 3, 2007, and opened January 10, 2008. It played 685 performances and 50 previews, earning nominations for Best Original Score and Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
The Little Mermaid is executive produced by Allison Erlikhman, Jeffrey Silver, and Jessica Virtue. Miranda and Marshall produce alongside Marc Platt and John DeLuca, joined by co-producers Michael Zimmer and Russell Allen. Caroline Roberts is associate producer.
