Melissa McCarthy is all cackles as the evil sea witch in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic animated musical that stars Halle Bailey as Ariel and swims into theaters May 26.
In honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration, the Mouse House has dropped an exciting new teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid just 100 days before it arrives in theaters. Helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, the film reimagines the studio’s 1989 classic, Oscar-winning animated musical.
In the film, Ariel, the youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure who longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea. While visiting the surface, she falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
Take a peek into the underwater adventure now, and catch your first glimpse at McCarthy’s Ursula:
The Little Mermaid stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (grown-ish) as Ariel; Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton, Snowpiercer) as Sebastian; Jacob Tremblay (Luca, Room) as Flounder; Awkwafina (Raya and the Last Dragon) as Scuttle; Jonah Hauer-King (A Dog’s Way Home) as Prince Eric; Art Malik (Homeland) as Sir Grimsby; Noma Dumezweni (Mary Poppins Returns) as Queen Selina; with Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Being the Ricardos) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award nominee McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Bridesmaids) as Ursula.
Rob Marshall (Chicago, Mary Poppins Returns) directs the script from two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (Life of Pi, Finding Neverland). The live-action story adaptation is by Magee, Marshall, and two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (Tony Bennett: An American Classic).
Marc Platt (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, Grease Live!) produces alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights), Marshall, and DeLuca, with Jeffrey Silver (The Lion King) serving as executive producer. Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) returns from the original animated film to score. Music is supervised and produced by Mike Higham (Mary Poppins Returns, Into the Woods). The music is by Menken; lyrics are by Howard Ashman, with new lyrics are by Miranda.
Visual Effects are created by Framestore and MPC, with Tim Burke serving as Production VFX Supervisor.
Disney's The Little Mermaid swims into theaters May 26, 2023.