The Little Mermaid is a long-loved story published by Hans Christian Anderson in 1837 about a mermaid who falls in love with a man and strikes a deal with a sea witch to become human. Disney turned this ancient fairy tale into one of the most beloved animated films ever. Disney has chosen to recreate the plot in a live-action form since the original film was released in 1989.
Since the film’s creation announcement, The Little Mermaid has sparked heated debate, particularly over Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel. However, these unwarranted and frankly racist concerns have faded, with many appreciating the cast’s diversity and Bailey’s star-making performance. Here’s your cast and character breakdown for The Little Mermaid’s live-action remake in 2023.
Halle Bailey as Ariel
Halle Bailey plays Ariel, Triton’s youngest daughter who is enthralled by everything in the human world. Bailey is a singer-songwriter and actress with five Grammy nominations for her musical talents. She has very little experience as an actress, and the part of Ariel will be her first principal role. While some fans of the original animated film were angry that a Black woman was hired in the role of Ariel, the choice to cast Bailey was not made lightly since she possesses the necessary degree of voice and acting skill to carry off this character better than anybody else.
Javier Bardem as King Triton
Javier Bardem, one of the most well-known actors on the cast list, was cast as King Triton, Ariel’s father who despises the human world. Bardem has spent the majority of his career playing villains. While Triton is not the enemy of The Little Mermaid, he does provide a dilemma for Ariel because he opposes everything she loves about, particularly her curiosity about the human world. Bardem’s career has been extremely active recently, with him playing Stilgar in the critically praised version of Dune, a role he will reprise in Dune: Part Two. One can only speculate as to what he will bring to the character of King Triton.
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
Melissa McCarthy is well known for her roles in comedies such as Bridesmaids and Spy. While many people believe McCarthy’s talents are limited to the genre, casting her as Ursula makes little sense. However, putting her in a villain character with her own humorous spin may be precisely the combo needed to represent a flawless Ursula, given that the sea witch does have a snarky, slightly comedic tone to her in the animated blockbuster. McCarthy as the sea witch with tons of tentacles and her eel sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam, will be a sight to behold.
Jonah Hauer-King as Eric
Jonah Hauer-King plays Ariel’s love interest, Prince Eric, whom she saves from drowning. Hauer-King is an English actor best known for his role in the miniseries Howard’s End. He appeared in films such as Little Woman, The Last Photograph, and A Dog’s Way Home. As a result of his role as Eric in The Little Mermaid, he has been cast as the lead character Lale in the upcoming production of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. If you haven’t seen Hauer-King perform yet, The Little Mermaid is a great place to start.
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The young Jacob Tremblay plays Flounder, Ariel’s best buddy and dependable comrade. Tremblay is the youngest actor to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in 2015 when he starred in Room at nine. He then appeared in Doctor Sleep and provided the title voice for the Pixar film Luca. Needless to say, Tremblay was the ideal pick for Flounder due to his wealth of knowledge despite being only 16 years old.
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian
Daveed Diggs is a Tony Award-winning actor, singer-songwriter, and rapper who played Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the critically acclaimed musical Hamilton.Diggs has gone on to star in Black-ish and Wonder after leaving Hamilton, and he is also a regular on the TV adaption of Snowpiercer. Diggs as Sebastian the crab is a fantastic pick because the actor has the musical experience to perform the character’s renowned songs “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl” justice.
Awkwafina as Scuttle
One of the most significant casting adjustments in this live-action adaptation is that Scuttle’s gender is changed from a male seagull to a female diving bird called a northern gannet. As a result, Awkwafina, an American actress, rapper, and comedian, now voices Scuttle. She has appeared in several notable films, including Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell, for which she received an unprecedented Golden Globe nomination. Given that Scuttle provides much comic relief in the picture, Awkwafina was an excellent pick.
Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina
Queen Selina, Eric’s mother, is a new addition to the live-action picture not included in the animation version. Noma Dumezweni is a South African-British actress with multiple awards, including a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award for her role as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. While Dumezweni’s screen acting accomplishments are sparse, her stage background will undoubtedly bring an entirely new character to life. Since Queen Selina is a new character, Dumezweni may have her work cut out for her while portraying a new character who is not already well-known.
Art Malik as Grimsby
Grimsby is Eric’s devoted butler, who looks after him and hopes to see him marry the appropriate young woman. Throughout the 1980s, Art Malik was most known for his work in British and Indian television and appearances in films such as True Lies, Dean Spanley, and A Passage to India. Casting a Pakistan-born British man in the role of a typical Colonial British man is a welcome change of pace for The Little Mermaid, allowing for greater diversity even among minor characters.
Jessica Alexander as Vanessa
Vanessa is Ursula’s human counterpart. Ursula disguises herself as a lovely human to entice Eric away from Ariel and obtain what she desires. Jessica Alexander, who rose to prominence after her portrayal in the Netflix series Get Even, plays Ursula’s alter ego. Alexander made her cinematic debut in Glasshouse and A Banquet, adding to her career before going on to wow audiences in The Little Mermaid. Given her small filmography, it’s certainly likely that her part in The Little Mermaid will open new avenues for her.Be sure to follow us on our website techyember.com For the latest news and updates on Family the little mermaid cast and other upcoming Seasons.
Adolfo Kern is a seasoned entrepreneur and business strategist passionate about innovation. Adolfo is also an avid investor and mentor, and he enjoys helping other entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition. When he's not working, Adolfo can play tennis, read nonfiction, and spend time with his family.
