Disney’s upcoming live-action version of “The Little Mermaid,” has garnered some strong opinions from movie goers. The original 1989 animated film is based on a classic Hans Christian Andersen tale. It tells the story of a girl who gives up everything to be with a man she has just met. A concept that has aged like milk for many modern-day viewers.
“The Little Mermaid” will be directed by Rob Marshall, who feels the story is suited for a more modern interpretation. “The character goes back to Hans Christian Andersen from another century, but at the same time, even in 1989, it felt in some ways like a very modern woman, someone who sees her life differently than anyone around her, and goes to find that dream,” Marshall said.
Marshall, along with screenwriters, David Magee and John DeLuca, also made some alterations to the overall story. Ariel (Halle Bailey) is the youngest daughter of ocean King Triton (Javier Bardem), who yearns for a world beyond the sea. “She’s not afraid of the ‘other,’ the human world, especially in our film,” Marshall revealed. “There’s a wall, basically, built between the worlds. That’s the rule that is never broken.”
Ariel defies her father to make a deal with Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to walk on land, in exchange for her voice.
While on land, she meets Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), who doesn’t believe mermaids deserve the bad reputation they get. The character of Eric is another portion of the story the creators exploring more. “The role of Eric in the animated film — I’m sure the original creators would agree with this — it’s a wooden, classic prince character with not a lot going on,” Marshall said. “There’s a whole story that’s developed in our film. He has a mother, a queen, that’s new to the film. He has a very similar trajectory in a way to Ariel. He doesn’t feel like it’s where he fits in, his world.”
“These two kindred spirits find each other and really teach the world about prejudice and about breaking down barriers and walls between these two worlds,” Marshall adds about the relationship. Basically, prince Eric will have a personality and it seems the two will bond a bit before rushing into marriage. Which addresses a lot of the complaints about the animated version of “The Little Mermaid.”
The other polarizing decision about this film is the casting of Bailey as Ariel. For every video we see of a kid’s face lighting up at the teaser trailer, there are three angry screaming ones about a Black Ariel. This is a reaction Marshall was not expecting. “I wasn’t anticipating that because, in a way, I felt like we’ve moved so far past that kind of thing,” he said. “But then you realize, in a way we haven’t. It was very moving to me to see how important this kind of casting is for the world.”
“We just were looking for the best actor for the role, period. The end,” Marshall said about Bailey’s casting. “We saw everybody and every ethnicity.” Original Ariel actress Jodi Benson supports Bailey’s casting completely, by the way.
The creators’ goal was to find an actress that fit Ariel’s personality, passion, and who is also able to sing. “That voice is something that is so signature and so ethereal and so beautiful that it captures the heart of Eric, and he looks for her for the entire film,” Mashall says. Simply put, Bailey is best suited for the role so she got it.
Keep in mind director George A. Romero gave almost the exact same reason for casting Duane Jones in 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead.” While many saw a movie where a black man saves a group of white people as political, Romero contended that Jones was simply the best-suited actor they saw. No agenda, no politics- just appreciation for talent when they see it.
“The Little Mermaid” swims into theaters May 26th, 2023. Check out the teaser and Bailey’s powerhouse voice below:
