When is The Little Mermaid remake streaming on Disney+?
Are you ready to part of that (live action) world?
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She’s ready to be a part of our world all over again, with the release of the live-action version of The Little Mermaid swimming onto Disney+ on 6 September.
Fans had been speculating what the latest Disney live-action remake will look like since its initial announcement back in 2016, with production officially beginning in early 2021.
Read more: All the live-action Disney remakes in development
After being delayed due to the pandemic, the main body of filming took place at London’s famous Pinewood Studios.
Ahead of its streaming release, here’s everything you need to know The Little Mermaid.
When is The Little Mermaid streaming on Disney+?
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid will be available to stream on Disney+ from Wednesday, 6 September, having been released in UK cinemas on Friday, 26 May. The original animated film is already on the streaming platform.
Disney fans were made to wait a little longer than expected to head back under the sea, with the film’s original filming schedule being delayed twice by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the reviews like?
A couple of days ahead of its big-screen release date, full reviews for Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid began washing ashore — and the verdict is good.
With write-ups praising Halle Bailey’s performance of Ariel (including our own), it looks like fans of Disney’s original are in for treat.
The film has earned a 73% score on reviews aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. Read a selection of reviews below.
Yahoo Entertainment: Halle Bailey is a powerhouse in this captivating Disney remake (4-min read)
The Independent: A luminous Halle Bailey aside, this live-action remake stinks (3-min read)
Evening Standard: Halle Bailey makes a real splash in bringing Ariel to life (3-min read)
The Telegraph: an exciting, enveloping remake that deserves to make a splash (4-min read)
Digital Spy: The Little Mermaid is Disney's best live-action remake (4-min read)
Is there a trailer for The Little Mermaid?
Yes. The main trailer for The Little Mermaid was released by Disney in March, during the Oscars. Watch it above. It was a huge hit online, according to The Hollywood Reporter, generating 108 million global views over 24 hours making it the biggest trailer for a live action Disney title since 2019’s The Lion King.
While some trolls have been downvoting the trailer on YouTube, it also inspired many heartwarming reaction videos from young fans around the world. Talking about the response to the trailers, Bailey said: “Seeing the world’s reaction to it was definitely a shock, but seeing all the babies’ reactions, all the brown and Black young girls, really tore me up emotionally.”
Disney also released a teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid in September, showing a glimpse of the watery world under the sea.
Ariel is shown to be swimming through a shipwreck up to the ocean’s surface, singing a few lines from Part Of Your World.
In February, a 30-second TV spot was released revealing more of Ariel's underwater world. Watch it below.
Who is in The Little Mermaid cast?
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid features a heavily star-studded cast.
In 2019, Bailey, who is best known for being a member of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, was announced to play the leading role of Ariel. She’s previously worked with Disney in a role on Let It Shine, with further acting credits including Grown-ish and Last Holiday.
Bridesmaids favourite Melissa McCarthy stars as Ursula, while Little Women’s Jonah Hauer-King steps into the role of Prince Eric.
Javier Bardem, of No Country For Old Men and Skyfall fame, appears as King Triton.
Although the film is primarily live-action, are a number of notable voice roles.
Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs will be taking up the role of Sebastian, while Room star Jacob Tremblay plays opposite as Ariel’s other faithful sidekick Flounder.
Ocean’s 8 actor Awkwafina voices the role of Scuttle, changing to a female diving bird rather than the male seagull seen in the original adaptation.
Who made The Little Mermaid?
Rob Marshall spearheaded the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
He previously worked on projects including Mary Poppins Returns, Into The Woods, and Chicago, having received Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations for all three films.
Four new songs were penned for the film by Hamilton songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and famed composer Alan Menken. None of the hit songs from the animated movie — including Part of Your World and Kiss the Girl — were replaced.
What happens in The Little Mermaid?
Following in the footsteps of other Disney live-action remakes such as Aladdin and Mulan, most of the main classic elements of The Little Mermaid will remain the same. However, Halle Bailey promises Ariel is much more empowered in the live action remake.
“I’m really excited for my version of the film because we’ve definitely changed that perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy,” Bailey told Edition magazine. “It’s way bigger than that. It’s about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life and what she wants.
Read more: Who is Halle Bailey?
“As women we are amazing, we are independent, we are modern, we are everything and above,” she added. “And I’m glad that Disney is updating some of those themes.”
It’s likely the viewers will notice a few small changes along the way, particularly given the inclusion of multiple new songs in the film’s soundtrack. Characters have also been modified to fit the new 2023 cast.
The official Disney synopsis reads: “The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, 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.”
The Little Mermaid will be released on Disney+ on 6 September.
