Disney has officially released a new gallery of stills from The Little Mermaid, with the focus this time on Ariel and Price Eric. Despite recent comments from star Halle Bailey, that romance is still expected to be front and centre in this live-action remake, and there are definitely some fan-pleasing shots to be found here.
Elsewhere, we get another look at Javier Bardem as King Triton and a very spooky shot of Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
During a recent interview with Empire Online (via Toonado.com), Lin-Manuel Miranda talked about joining the project to write new musical numbers like "For The First Time," for Ariel, "Wild Uncharted Waters," for Prince Eric, and "Scuttlebutt," for Awkwafina's Scuttle.
"I said, 'I will sign on as a producer. But really the hat I’m wearing is Chairman of the 'Don’t F*** It Up' committee," the actor and composer tells the site. "And I will weigh in when I think you’re f***in' it up!"
"I said, 'Happy to write new lyrics if they need them. And if they don’t, I won’t,'" Miranda says of his collaboration with Alan Menken. "I do not want to shoehorn [in] a song that no-one wants to sit through, because they want to get to ‘Under The Sea’ already. I’m that person! 'Get on with 'Under the Sea!'"
In the movie, 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 stars singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, with Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
Helmed by visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall, the movie opens exclusively in theaters on May 26, 2023.