The Disney live-action machine is happily churning away. After scoring a hit withAladdinand being on track to make loads of money withThe Lion King(no one shall speak ofDumbo), the studio isn’t slowing down, and now they’ve got their eye onMelissa McCarthyfor the live-action remake ofThe Little Mermaid.
According toVariety, McCarthy is in early talks to play the role of the villain, Ursula the Sea Witch. For those who haven’t seen the 1989 animated classic, the film is about a mermaid, Ariel, who wants to live among people, especially the handsome Prince Eric, despite the wishes of her father Triton. Ursula, an undersea hustler of sortswho has a garden of Mitch McConnells, offers Ariel the chance to be human in exchange for her voice. If Ariel can get Eric to fall in love with her in three days, she gets to keep her legs and her voice. If she loses, she joins the garden of Mitch McConnells.
Rob Marshall, who previously directed the sequelMary Poppins Returns, is on board to helmThe Little Mermaidworking from a script byFinding NeverlandwriterDavid Magee. The producers are looking to make “contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original.”Lin-Manuel Mirandahas teamed up with original songwriterAlan Menkento pen some new tunes for the remake as well.
On the surface, these things seem great. But the one-two punch ofAladdinandBeauty and the Beastmake me not care. PerhapsThe Lion Kingwill redeem things, but right now the purpose of these live-action remakes seems to A) address bad faith concerns put forward by YouTubers; B) add exposition that no one asked for; and C) bring nothing worthwhile to the table except famous actors and expensive VFX. Based offMary Poppins Returns, a “sequel” that’s pretty much just a remake of the original, I’m not expecting much from this newLittle Mermaid.
