The Little Mermaid: Everything you need to know (2024)

The Little Mermaid will be swimming into cinemas again next year in Disney's latest live-action remake.

In September 2022 at the D23 Expo, the gorgeous teaser trailer was released and revealed a snippet of the new take on 'Part of Your World'. Those lucky few in attendance even got to see the entire song, but that hasn't been released online.

Halle Bailey has taken on the role of Ariel for the new movie, and original voice actor Jodi Benson is full of praise for her: "So thrilled! So excited! Halle, you were absolutely amazing! I'm SO proud of you and your beautiful performance as Ariel!"

As we prepare to head under the sea again, here's everything you need to know about The Little Mermaid live-action remake.

The Little Mermaid release date: When will The Little Mermaid be released?

The Little Mermaid will swim into cinemas on May 26, 2023, with a Disney+ release likely to follow once its exclusive theatrical window is up (usually 45 days from its release).

Following a few Covid-related delays, filming took place on the new movie between January-July 2021. Everything should be on track for that May 2023 release date, especially now they've released the first trailer.

However, after the past couple of years, you can't ever rule out release-date shuffles.

The Little Mermaid trailer: Watch The Little Mermaid trailer here!

If you missed the trailer above (or just want to watch it again), here's The Little Mermaid teaser trailer:

It's hard to tell from this brief bit of footage, but the live-action remake appears to be faithful to the animation, even replicating certain shots. We don't get any other character reveals in it, apart from a brief glimpse at Flounder.

Still, that segment of 'Part of Your World' is enough to get us excited.

The Little Mermaid cast: Who's in The Little Mermaid?

As already mentioned, Halle Bailey – one-half of the R&B duo CHLOE X HALLE – will star as Ariel.

Talking to STYLECASTER in January 2022, Bailey teased the modern take on the story: "I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised by some updates of the themes of the film. More so on Ariel's side of women empowerment and her taking her power back."

She also revealed at D23 that filming 'Part of Your World' reminded her of her childhood. "Swimming in the pool, imagining I was a mermaid, I never though I could see that come to life," she reflected.

Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell star Awkwafina will voice a gender-swapped Scuttle, the seagull companion of Ariel who helps her navigate her new, voiceless world, while Room star Jacob Tremblay will voice Ariel's confidant Flounder.

"Oh man. I mean, that was so cool," Awkwafina told ComicBook.com of her filming experience on the movie.

"I mean, each one of these experiences is mind-blowing in their own respect and very special, and for that one, it was so cool to work with Rob Marshall and Lin-Manuel [Miranda]. And I think that the world's going to really, really like it."

Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy is playing sea witch Ursula, a casting that came under fire from many, as people had been hoping for a drag queen to play the underwater villain.

McCarthy, for her part, loves the role, telling People: "I have such an affection for Ursula. I know she's the villain, but I've just always kind of been like, 'Oh my god.' I mean, she's kind of delicious to play."

Lizzo was among the other stars in the running for Ursula and while she's fine missing out to McCarthy, she won't speculate as to why.

"My audition wasn't terrible," she said in February 2022. "My audition was good. You can ask Disney. I don't want to talk too much about it. The singing was great. I'll just say that."

Ursula may have a big change from the animated original, and pick up a plot point from the original story instead, which has Ursula definitively characterised as King Triton's sister. Talking of King Triton, Javier Bardem is taking on the role for the new movie.

Despite rumours linking Harry Styles to the role of Prince Eric, the role has gone to Little Women and World on Fire star Jonah Hauer-King. As for Sebastian, the lovable crab will be played by Hamilton and Snowpiercer star, Daveed Diggs.

Also joining the cast are Jude Akuwudike as Grimsby, Eric's loyal butler and confidant, Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing) as Carlotta, Eric's housekeeper, and Lorena Andrea and Kajsa Mohammar who play Perla and Karina, new characters for the movie.

In March 2022, it was also revealed that Bridgerton and Sex Education star Simone Ashley is playing a role in the movie (via The Times), but it's not clear yet who she's playing.

Jessica Alexander, Russell Balogh (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), Adrian Christopher (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child) and Emily Coates (Cursed) have also all been cast in undisclosed roles.

The Little Mermaid plot: What songs can we expect in The Little Mermaid?

While we assume that the plot of the remake will follow closely to the original animation, we do know that there will be new songs in the movie.

Lin-Manuel Miranda worked on the movie with the original composer Alan Menken, and Miranda revealed in February 2020 that he had written four new songs for the live-action remake.

In February 2022, Miranda confirmed that the new songs are "replacing none of the ones you like". He told Variety: "All of those are in. There’s no bigger Little Mermaid fan than me. We found a couple of opportunities for some other music that I can’t wait to see."

He added that Ursula doesn't have a new song, but that there will be one for Ariel when she becomes (spoiler alert) a human for the second half of the movie.

"Rob [Marshall] found a creative way to hear from Ariel, even though she is sans voice for a little while. We wrote some music for her time on land. She experiences a lot of firsts, as someone with legs for the first time," Miranda teased.

In case you needed reminding of the plot of the movie, here's the official synopsis:

"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," it reads.

"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 in cinemas on May 26, 2023.