Even a hundred years after this, Disney once again won the hearts of viewers with its 1989 animated version, a film famous for the characters with colorful decorations as well as the catchy songs. After many years, Walt Disney decided to make a live-action remake, which caused fans to get very enthusiastic again.
Bring home #TheLittleMermaid! 🧜♀️🦀🐠 Own it on Blu-ray & DVD today! https://t.co/cXTFUVURrY pic.twitter.com/jSuh4QTDFm
— The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) September 19, 2023
One of the top points of conversation was the casting of Halle Bailey in the role of Ariel, Triton’s daughter who is curious about the human world and dreams of seeing it. Bailey, a singer-songwriter who specialized in the genre, performed the role so well that she was applauded for it. In the beginning, there was a lot of opposition and baseless complaints mostly because of her skin color. Nevertheless, her portrayal received immense recognition for authenticity and star presence.
Despite the mixed reception of the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” in 2023, the film turned out to be a box office success and received widespread acclaim upon its release on Disney+. If some of you are coming in a bit late, here’s a short summary of the characters.
Halle Bailey as Ariel
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Triton’s daughter, who is his youngest and most curious, and is enraptured by humanity, making a choice that changes her life forever. As a Grammy-nominated artist with very little acting experience prior to this role, Bailey’s casting was a huge step in the right direction toward establishing a foothold in the film industry.
Although at first some fans objected to the casting of a Black actress, Halle Bailey as Ariel, that concern was soon replaced by her impressive attributes as an actress. Bailey’s incredible voice and performance mesmerized the audience, adequately portraying Ariel on the movie screen.
Javier Bardem as King Triton
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Academy Award winner Javier Bardem brings his trademark intensity to portraying King Triton, Ariel’s dad, in The Little Mermaid live adaptation. While Bardem is good at portraying villains, but in this role, he is also ready to play a complex paternal role. King Triton struggles with his daughter’s increasingly intense deepening interest in the human world, between his fondness for her and the responsibility he has to protect her. The actor’s charisma and screen presence are mixed with both regal qualities and powerful protectiveness transforming the much-loved character into something more multifaceted.
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
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The comedic powerhouse Melissa McCarthy portrays the iconic sea witch Ursula in a novel way in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. McCarthy’s typical verve and pizazz in her portrayal adds zest and brings to light Ursula’s sly wit and her indefatigable dynamism. Yet McCarthy amazes her audience performing more than just the laughs and showcasing Ursula’s malevolent side with the highest class. Audiences were overwhelmed when McCarthy portrayed the character perfectly in accordance with the animated version which also added new dimensions to the character. The movie goes further than just exploring Ursula’s past by unearthing a remarkable detail which proves that she has a link to King Triton which goes parallel to the first story.
Jonah Hauer-King as Eric
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The role of Prince Eric in the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” played by Jonah Hauer-King was truly a spectacular performance. The young actor not only imprinted upon the character with charisma and genuineness but also brought in his experience from Oscar-winning projects like the television adaptation of “Howard’s End” and 2019 film “Little Women.” Hauer-King’s acting prowess is best unveiled in his upcoming role as Lale in the film version of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Jacob Tremblay as Flounder
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Jacob Tremblay played the role of Flounder, Ariel’s best friend perfectly, even though some people were not sure about the CGI aspect of the character. In addition to his amazing acting resume, which included stellar roles in “Room “and “Doctor Sleep” at the time he was 16 years old, the crew and the director chose him because of his maturity and talent. The character design could have been slightly different from animated version but the significance of the Flounder’s role in the story remained the same.
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian
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The multitalented Daveed Diggs, who won the Tony Award for his “Hamilton” roles as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, plays the part of Sebastian, the engaging crab, in the upcoming live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.” Diggs’ musical talents, spanning acting, songwriting, and rapping, are sure to give new life to classic songs like “Under
While Diggs’s performance was great, some fans said that the transformation from animated to CGI didn’t fully preserve the heart of Sebastien’s role. In spite of this, however, the admirable qualities that Diggs brings to the part clearly add to its dynamism.
Awkwafina as Scuttle
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In the live-action rendition, Awkwafina, to everyone’s surprise, is the one who assumes the role of Scuttle, the beloved bird. This change is a gender shift and the seagull Scuttle becomes Scuttle, a female northern gannet. Awkwafina’s talent to make people laugh and her impressive acting performances including movie roles in “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” make her right for this character. Her capability to make a funny man out of Scuttle and enrich his character in the movie will leave us with an unforgettable Dale.
Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina
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We see a new character, Queen Selina, Eric’s mother, in the live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” which gives more complication to Eric’s family relationships. Her character is portrayed by the acclaimed South African British actress Noma Dumezweni. Her presence enriches the story. Awards include Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards for her excellent work like in “The Cursed Child” where she played the role of Hermone onstage.
While Dumezweni is an experienced actor having participated in films and television productions like “Mary Poppins Returns” and “Doctor Who,” her portrayal of Queen Selina adds a different dimension to how we see Eric’s life and background.
Art Malik as Grimsby
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Art Malik plays the role of Grimsby, who is Eric’s true-to-the-life butler, in the live action adaptation. When Malik, a British and Indian TV icon, was selected to portray such a character, he did it very tastefully. His appearance on screen is addressing the issue of diversity, which differs from the traditional images of Colonial British characters. Through his character Grimsby, Malik adds more characters to the “The Little Mermaid” novel this way making the movie more inclusive and representative.
Jessica Alexander as Vanessa
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In the “The Little Mermaid” live-action version, Ursula turns into a seductive human woman named Vanessa who is equally beautiful in order to deceive Eric and bring Ariel under her spell. Jessica Alexander who is one of the major characters in the Netflix series “Get Even” plays the interesting other side of Ursula as she enriches the scheming charm of the character.
However, even though the star is just starting, her performance in “The Little Mermaid”, which highlights her talent for future projects, already is seen. She not only enchants the audience as Vanessa, but also gets the recognition, which possibly leads to bigger roles in her future career.
The Sisters
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The remake depicts Ariel’s sisters who now represent various oceans which makes their family relation more complex and intense. Lorena Andrea, Nathalie Sorrell, Simone Ashley, Karolina Conchet, Sienna King, and Kasja Mohammar play the roles of Perla, Caspia, Indria, Mala, Tamika, and Karina. Although their part is not much elaborated from the story originally, they express their strong bonds as sisters in a sibling scene with Ariel.
Jodi Benson as The Market Vendor
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With a sweet gesture from the original animated version, Jodi Benson, the famous Ariel voice actress, does a special cameo in “The Little Mermaid” live-action remake. Through the play of the merchant, Benson acts out a heartfelt scene where the latest Ariel accepts a fork, now called ‘dinglehopper.’ The moment when Ariel delicately wraps her hair around the object, the scene transforms into a symbolic passing the banner from the veteran voice actor to her replacement.
Benson went on to lend her voice to some more renowned roles, such as voicing Barbies in “Toy Story 2” and “Toy Story 3”, as well as filling in for Paige O’Hara as the voice of Belle in “House of Mouse”. Her live-action appearances in films, for example, “Enchanted” and her vocal talents in notable movies such as “Flubber.”
Conclusion
The 2023 live action remake “The Little Mermaid” modernizes the cherished source and inspires due to the gifted and diverse cast. From Halle Bailey’s mesmerizing portrayal of Ariel to Melissa McCarthy’s laugh-inducing performance of Ursula, each actor gives their characters a fresh and realistic touch.
Watch and you'll see,
— The Little Mermaid (@LittleMermaid) March 13, 2023
Some day I'll be,
Part of your world!
Watch the new trailer for #TheLittleMermaid and see the movie in theaters May 26! pic.twitter.com/Wrq3JuxbqD
The casting choices such as, the trailblazer’s decision like Awkwafina as Scuttle and Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina show the determination of the movie to diversity as well as representation. At the same time, the nostalgic scenes, including Jodi Benson’s guest appearance, connect the original animated picture and its recent adaptation, creating a feeling of continuity and tribute.
As viewers re-discover the joy of the “Little Mermaid”, it is obvious that the cast is the one who is mainly responsible for the movie’s success due to their exceptional acting skills and devotion. With unforgettable acting and smartly handled characters, the live action remake is sure to please audiences both veteran and new, setting the scene for the timeless story to continue inspiring people’s hearts for many years to come.
FAQs
Q1: When was the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” released?
The live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” was released in 2023.
Q2: Who plays Ariel in the live-action remake?
Halle Bailey portrays Ariel in the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.”
Q3: What changes were made to the characters in the live-action remake?
A few differences were introduced to the live-action remake, such as the creation of Queen Selina (Eric’s mother) and transformation Scuttle from a male seagull to a female northern gannet.
Q4: Are there any notable cameos in the live-action remake?
Certainly, Jodi Benson, the original voice actor of Ariel, stars in the live-action adaptation.
Q5: How was the reception to the casting choices in the live-action remake?
The choices of actresses, especially Halle Bailey as Ariel, were both highly praised and some initial categorical rejection. On the other hand, most of the fans applauded the diversity and commended the excellence of the actors.
Amit Gupta is a 2015 graduate of RTU in Rajasthan, India. After working over a decade as an additional writer at News article, he decided to start his own news publication. He mainly focuses on entertainment, Movies, Web series articles and editorials. He likes to listen to music and play cricket in his free time. Follow On Facebook.
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