Disney News

Tag: little mermaid

  • Disney’s Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Casts Halle Bailey as Ariel

    Disney’s Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Casts Halle Bailey as Ariel

    Halle Bailey will be part of Disney’s world. Disney announced today, the R&B singer and actress has been cast as Ariel in Disney’s next live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”

    “After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence, and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role,” director Rob Marshall said in a statement.

    Bailey, best known for her work on Freeform’s Grown-ish and as one half of the singing duo Chloe x Halle took to Twitter immediately after the news broke to share her excitement as you can see in the post below:

    Bailey is joining a cast that includes Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, while Melissa McCarthy is in talks to play Ursula.

    The story centers on the mermaid Ariel who yearns to live among humans and finds her wish granted when she trades her voice for legs from the sea witch, Ursula.

    “Mary Poppins Returns” director Rob Marshall is helming. The film will incorporate the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new tunes from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is also producing the film along with Marshall, Marc Platt and John DeLuca. David Magee wrote the script.

    David Magee wrote the latest script for the reboot after Jane Goldman. Marc Platt, Marshall, Miranda and John DeLuca are producers. No release date has been set yet.

  • Melissa McCarthy in Talks to Play Ursula in Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’

    Melissa McCarthy in Talks to Play Ursula in Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’

    Melissa McCarthy is in early talks to play the villain Ursula in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.”

    The deal is not yet complete, according to multiple reports, but would mark the first official casting for the remake, which follows such similar live-action adaptations as “Beauty and the Beast” and this year’s “Aladdin” and “Lion King.”

    The story centers on the mermaid Ariel who yearns to live among humans and finds her wish granted when she trades her voice for legs from the sea witch, Ursula.

    “Mary Poppins Returns” director Rob Marshall is helming. The film will incorporate the original songs from the 1989 animated hit as well as new tunes from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda is also producing the film along with Marshall, Marc Platt and John DeLuca. David Magee wrote the script.

    David Magee wrote the latest script for the reboot after Jane Goldman. Marc Platt, Marshall, Miranda and John DeLuca are producers. No release date has been set yet.

  • VIDEO: Disney Animatronic With Missing Head Gives Guests Unexpected Shock

    VIDEO: Disney Animatronic With Missing Head Gives Guests Unexpected Shock

    The poor unfortunate souls riding The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disneyland got an unexpected shock while on the attraction Sunday. The ride’s Ursula animatronic literally lost its head in plain sight of park guests.

    You would think The Queen of Hearts had been screaming, “off with her head!” but instead a few shrill shrieks were probably heard from park-goers as the figure continued to move and sing with its head dangling.

    In the words of The Sea Witch herself, “Don’t underestimate the importance of body language.” Take a look at the horrifying video below.

    “Immediately after we got off we were ushered out along with everyone else, and the employees looked very concerned,” the poster wrote. “Many people had seen Ursula decapitated, including kids who understandably were upset.”

    This was just one of a multitude of videos and pics of the horrifying event that have been plastered all over social media.

    In an odd coincidence, this isn’t the only attraction to lose its head in recent days. Social media also was buzzing when the auctioneer from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland Paris also malfunctioned and lost his head too.

    These type of malfunctions are bound to happen, but it still can be rather horrifying for the young ones even if the adults (big kids) find it a little funny. Very soon after both rides were temporarily closed for repairs.