Regardless of what some
traditionalist critics might say, Disney is dead-set on continuing its trend of
reinventing their classic Animated Canon of films into live-action remakes. And
considering the large amount of movies that equates too, they have hit upon the
brilliant idea of dividing the productions on two major platforms. There will
be some films that will be given a theatrical release, while other adaptations
will become exclusive content for the Disney+ streaming service. “The Little
Mermaid” has the honor of being remade for cinemas, and this month a name was
given who would portray the memorable antagonist Ursula.
Vanity Fair has it that Melissa McCarthy has now entered
negotiations with Disney on playing the big bad for their live-action
adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” sometime in the next decade. She would be
the first name to be considered for the cast of the remake, where thus far the
only announcements have been for the main production detail. It should be
recalled that the earliest information released regarding Disney’s live-action
treatment of “The Little Mermaid” way back in 2016 included the return of the
animated original’s composer Alan Menken, who would be assisted in this
iteration by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In the Disney animated take on “The
Little Mermaid” in 1989, the sea witch named Ursula was changed from the
neutral character of Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale into an
active antagonist that sought to dethrone the father of the mermaid Ariel, who reigned
as King of the Sea. She was voiced by actress Pat Carroll in her true form
(large-built white haired woman with an octopus lower body) and by Ariel’s
voice actress Jodi Benson in her human disguise. This might thus limit McCarthy’s
role as portraying only the base sea witch form and not her alternate shape, if
the remake does stick to the film’s original plotline.
Aside from Melissa McCarthy there
has been a significant pool of interested celebrities in portraying the popular
villainesses who sung of helping “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and then stealing
Ariel’s voice. Other choices range from Bette Midler (a Disney veteran from
1993’s “Hocus Pocus”), Lady Gaga, and rap singer Lizzo who had actually
campaigned to get the part starting by dressing as Ursula for Halloween last
year. Her 2018 costumed jaunt managed to get interest on social media at the
time.
No other news on possible casting
has been made of “The Little Mermaid” which will be directed by Rob Marshall
(2018’s “Mary Poppins Returns”). Barring any setbacks, production of the live-action
movie could begin by 2020. Two live-action remakes have premiered this year, “Dumbo”
in March and “Aladdin” in May. Melissa McCarthy starred in the critically-panned
2016 “Ghostbusters.”
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