It’s been a while since Disney released a live-action remake exclusively in theatres. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to the audience, but Rob Marshall’s “The Little Mermaid” marks Disney’s first theatrical-exclusive live-action remake since Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King” was released in 2019. Based on the 1989 animated film of the same name, the movie aims to recreate the magic of the animated film through a more contemporary lens by casting a Black actress in the lead role.
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Halle Bailey will be playing Ariel in this new adaptation of the Disney classic, with a script written by David Magee and Jane Goldman, based on a story from Magee, Marshall, and John DeLuca. The movie will also feature Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Art Malik, Simone Ashley, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, and Awkwafina.
Its plot synopsis reads, “The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, the ruler of the underwater kingdom Atlantica. Ariel, already fascinated by the world of humans, falls deeply in love with the handsome Prince Eric after saving him during a shipwreck and resolves to meet him in the world above water. Her quest brings her in conflict with her father and in the clutches of the scheming sea witch Ursula.”
Produced by Marshall, DeLuca, Marc Platt, and Lin Manuel-Miranda, “The Little Mermaid” arrives exclusively in theatres on May 26 via Disney. Watch the new TV spot below.
