When singer/actress Halle Bailey was cast as Disney‘s live-action Princess Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” there was a very loud online faction that was furious at her being selected to play the beloved fictional cartoon character based on the iconic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. As you might suspect, a lot of those folks were mainly upset that a black actress was inhabiting a role they believed was meant for a white actress.

Continue reading Halle Bailey Details What She Learned From ‘Little Mermaid’ Racist Backlash, Got Support From Zendaya & Ariana Grande at The Playlist.

Disney’s animated “The Little Mermaid” is really beloved, and most of Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated classics have grossed over $1 billion at the box office and have been generally adored too. But “The Little Mermaid,” the live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar-winning animated musical classic that dares to star a black girl as Ariel, Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”), has been met with, let’s say, some backlash and controversy from those corners of the Internet.

Continue reading ‘The Little Mermaid’ Trailer: Live-Action Reimagining Of Animated Classic Swims Into Theaters May 26 at The Playlist.

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.

Continue reading New ‘The Little Mermaid’ “Wish” Spot: Rob Marshall’s Disney Live-Action Splashes On Screen May 26 at The Playlist.

With the casting heating up in recent days surrounding the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” we knew it was only a matter of time before Disney announced the big role of Ariel. And now, the studio has unveiled who will be the title character in the highly-anticipated film and it appears that the Mouse House is making some very big changes to the look of the character.

Disney announced today that actress Halle Bailey will play the role of Ariel in the live-action “The Little Mermaid” which is likely going to arrive in theaters in 2021.

Continue reading ‘Grown-ish’ Actress Halle Bailey Cast As Ariel In Disney’s Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’ at The Playlist.

It was only a matter of time. After the massive success of “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and the expected performance of “The Lion King,” Disney is finally beginning the casting process of what might the biggest animated film left in its library, “The Little Mermaid.” And according to a new report, the cast might actually be led by Melissa McCarthy.

Continue reading Melissa McCarthy In Talks To Play Ursula In Rob Marshall’s ‘Little Mermaid’ Live-Action Remake at The Playlist.

Tackling a sequel to a beloved classic is difficult for a writer or director, but imagine the responsibility of composing new songs to an iconic musical that has wowed generations for over 50 years?  That was the job Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman signed on for when they began working with Rob Marshall on “Mary Poppins Returns,” but despite the fearsome responsibility, there are some gigs you simply can’t say no to.

Continue reading ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Songwriters Explain Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ’30s ‘Patter’ at The Playlist.

Disney‘s new “Mary Poppins Returns” is a lot like a Snuggie™. That wearable fad blanket provided instant warmth and comfort to the receiver of the popular White Elephant gift, generated a hearty laugh or two, and was then thrown into the back of the closest, never to be seen again until the annual Goodwill run. This newfangled invention can’t compare with the reliability of a good ol’ regular blanket, but there is something charming— if a little bit off— about this new imitation.

Continue reading ‘Mary Poppins Returns:’ Emily Blunt Is Terrific In A Mostly Forgettable Imitation & Uneven Sequel To A Classic at The Playlist.

BEVERLY HILLS – To say 2018 is turning out to be a momentous year for Emily Blunt is something of an understatement.  “A Quiet Place,” a film her husband John Krasinski directed and co-starred alongside her in, was an unexpected critical and box office hit this past spring taking in $340 million worldwide.  She’ll follow that up with an already celebrated turn as Mary Poppins in Rob Marshall’s “Mary Poppins Returns.”  A performance so impressive she somehow makes you forget Julie Andrews‘ Oscar-winning turn from the original 1964 classic.

Continue reading Emily Blunt on Meryl Streep’s Pratfalls & ‘Mary Poppins’ Liza Minnelli Moment [Interview] at The Playlist.

This year for Christmas, Disney is giving us the return of a beloved classic with “Mary Poppins Returns.” Rob Marshall’s sequel to the 1964 film produced by the man Walt Disney himself has a lot to live up to. But with 2002’s “Chicago” and 2014’s “Into the Woods” being smash-hits, Marshall already has some good musical cred to his name.

Continue reading ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Trailer: Emily Blunt Brings Back The Classic Magical, Musical Nanny at The Playlist.

Disney has been bringing back everyone’s old favorites lately, with great success, and it seems like the studio’s only mode of business is “Star Wars,” Marvel, and reboots/remakes. The latest in this trend of making what’s old new again is “Mary Poppins Returns.” The highly anticipated sequel/reboot of the classic film is scheduled to be released next year, and the first trailer has arrived.

Continue reading First Trailer For ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Goes Down Like A Spoonful Of Sugar at The Playlist.

Yes, we knew that Disney was putting their live action paint on “Mary Poppins,” but other than Emily Blunt starring, details were scarce. Well, the mouse house has lifted the curtain today and what they’re cooking up, and it’s gonna be big.

Emily Blunt and “Hamilton” star Lin-Manuel Miranda will lead “Mary Poppins Returns.” Rob Marshall, who directed Blunt in “Into The Woods,” returns behind the camera for this tale that will see the actress playing the title character, with Miranda in a new role as a street lamplighter named Jack.

Continue reading Emily Blunt & ‘Hamilton’ Star Lin-Manuel Miranda Will Star In ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ at The Playlist.

'Chicago' & 'Into The Woods' Helmer Rob Marshall To Direct 'Mary Poppins' Reboot For Disney

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The 10 Best Films Of 2002

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Review: ‘Into The Woods’ Starring Meryl Streep, Ana Kendrick, Emily Blunt & Johnny Depp

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Watch: New Trailer For Disney's Musical 'Into The Woods' With Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp And More

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First Look: Johnny Depp As The Dapper Wolf In Rob Marshall's ‘Into The Woods’ With Meryl Streep & More

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Watch: First Teaser Trailer For ‘Into The Woods’ Starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp & More

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Rob Marshall & Johnny Depp's 'The Thin Man' Remake Put On Hold By Warner Bros. For Now

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Continue reading ‘Chicago’ & ‘Pirates 4’ Director Rob Marshall Planning Big-Screen Version Of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Into The Woods’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Jerry Stahl To Write ‘The Thin Man’ For Johnny Depp; Will Retain Period Setting at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Franchise Stalwart Terry Rossio Returns for ‘Pirates 5’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Who Will Direct The Oz Musical ‘Wicked’? Rob Marshall, Ryan Murphy, JJ Abrams & James Mangold Are Early Contenders at The Playlist.

This time around, Captain Jack Sparrow will apparently be chasing down the fountain of youth with Penelope Cruz, who may or may not be a trustworthy ally. Here is the summary:

In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love–or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Continue reading Captain Jack Sparrow Will Chase The Fountain Of Youth In ‘On Stranger Tides’ at The Playlist.

While the three-dimensionalization of the studio’s big 2011 tentpole was inevitable, it’s at least comforting that it’ll be shot in 3D, rather than getting a shoddy “Clash of the Titans”-style conversion.

Continue reading ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Will Shoot In 3D, Hell Fails to Freeze Over at The Playlist.

The poor producer of such cinema touchstones as “National Treasure,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Kangaroo Jack,” (and of course the “Bad Boys” “Transformers” and “Pirates” McFranchises) has evidently been hit by the hard economic times as impactfully as any indie producer out there (or Adam McKay & Ben Stiller).

The L.A.

Continue reading Boo Hoo: ‘Pirates 4’ Budget Scaled Back; Still Over $200 Million at The Playlist.