Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid will feature some of the original’s classic songs as well as a handful of new compositions. The original film was released in 1989, setting off the ‘Disney Renaissance,’ which lasted for roughly ten years. It adapted Hans Christen Andersen’s fairy tale of the same name, turning it into a much happier story that quickly became a Walt Disney Animation Studios classic. Beyond its lovable characters, including animal sidekicks Flounder and Sebastian, the movie is well-loved for its many musical numbers.
For the last several years, Disney has adapted its beloved animated features into live-action films, from Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast to Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book. The studio released the live-action version of Mulan on Disney+ and releases Cruella, a spinoff of 101 Dalmatians, in 2021. Separately, Disney shared that the company will be releasing a slew of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and other Walt Disney Animation Studios shows and films on Disney+ in the next three years.
Part of Disney’s announcement included confirmation of The Little Mermaid’s cast and news that the movie will feature old and new songs. Even better—the songs will be written by Alan Menken, the man behind the original film’s music, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. As previously known, Halle Bailey will play Ariel, with Jonah Hauer-King playing Prince Eric and Javier Bardem playing King Triton. Ariel’s animal companions, Sebastian, Scuttle, and Flounder, will be played by Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, and Jacob Tremblay. Finally, Melissa McCarthy will lend her talents to the villainous Ursula.
Alan Menken wrote the music for countless Disney Renaissance classics, including Tangled and Hercules, and gave the original The Little Mermaid fan-favorite songs like “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.” Lin-Manuel Miranda, on the other hand, wrote the music for 2016’s Moana, which earned him Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. Separately, of course, he’s known for being the genius behind Hamilton, which also starred Daveed Diggs. Halle Bailey has starred in Grown-ish and is also half of the music duo Chloe x Halle, giving her the perfect combination of skills to belt out Ariel's signature songs.
This musical announcement comes on the heels of Mulan being released to all Disney+ subscribers. Although the live-action adaptation was highly anticipated, many reviews stated the movie fell flat compared to its animated counterpart. Part of the reason the film was disliked came from its lack of musical numbers. The live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid will go in the complete opposite direction of Mulan. It may be a coincidence, but it seems as though Disney realizes its mistakes just in time to save the musical magic in the live-action The Little Mermaid.
Source: Disney