We’re embracing all things The Little Mermaid today as Disney news highlights are shining a bright light on the undersea adventure we’ll all be experiencing in theaters in just under two weeks. It feels as if we’ve been waiting for the theatrical release of this film for years — because we have — and it’s almost surreal that it’s finally happening. As we get closer to the big debut, we’ve seen more of Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, in addition to the supporting characters that’ll round out an all-star cast.
Today, fans got their first look at one of Disney’s most iconic musical numbers, and we’ve been singing “Poor Unfortunate Souls” all afternoon. We’re also sending major heart eyes to Bailey and Hauer-King as they opened up about playing Ariel and Prince Eric in a sweet chat shared with fans today. As we said above, it’s a big day under the sea, and you know what that means! It’s time to grab your dinglehopper and conch because we’re swimming to Atlantica.
Melissa McCarthy sings her heart out as Ursula
Disney’s previews of The Little Mermaid so far have been focused on the beauty of the majestic undersea paradise we’ll soon discover, Ariel — as she swims around longing for more, and short glimpses into her friends and foes that will soon usher on a journey through self-discovery. You see, The Little Mermaid is a love story on many levels, one of which is Ariel falling in love with who she is.
Another part of that journey is in discovering who her friends and family are, and it appears from the teaser we got today that Ursula’s tie to Ariel is more profound than it has been before. Rumor has it that the live-action retelling of the story will confirm that Ursula is Ariel’s aunt, and there’s a bit of evidence to allude to that idea as she asks Ariel what her father has told her about her; with a look in her eyes as if she’s waiting for something big.
In addition to that moment, we’ve also finally heard a peek at McCarthy’s significant musical number as the sea witch. Ursula is well known for the theatrical performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and it looks like the live-action version is going to be just as enchanting.
McCarthy’s take on Ursula is going to be both menacing and comedic, all-encompassing and somehow nurturing, and we can’t wait to see it. Also, take our advice; you’re going to want to listen to that clip daily until the film hits theaters; it certainly does make you feel powerful.
Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King loved filming this scene together
Bailey and Hauer-King are Ariel and Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, and they recently opened up about everything from the iconic mermaid hair flip, their favorite scenes to film together, and what they hope their legacy will be when they look back at the film in decades to come. Their roles at this point of their careers are impactful in more ways than they might initially have been aware of; solidifying themselves as Disney royalty is next level in a massive capacity.
Of course, they were also having a lot of fun together, and that’s the most important takeaway that fans could have hoped for. To be able to take on a Disney fairytale is a gift, and to have fun while creating this chapter of their story is everything that matters.
Hauer-King and Bailey both agreed that the carriage ride scene was a fun one for them together and when talking to The Hollywood Reporter, the former implied that it’s going to give fans a bit of a nostalgic feel when we reach that part of the story:
It’s a great scene in the original. It’s adventurous, and they’re having a fun time. I’ve actually seen a couple shots from the original compared to what we did, and I think it pairs up really well. It just felt like quite a fun sequence, and being out in Sardinia [Italy] was really, really nice.
When fans navigate a retelling, there will always be scenes we look forward to amid new takes on characterization and situations, but knowing the carriage scene is so similar to the original film is making our Ariel and Prince Eric-loving hearts so warm.
Bailey and Hauer-King reflect on their legacy years down the road
While we loved hearing that Hauer-King and Bailey had fun during their journey together, what really touched our hearts were the words they shared with one another regarding seeing one another years down the road for an anniversary reunion of The Little Mermaid. This lasting imprint in Disney’s history will be an essential chapter for both of them, and we can’t wait to see what happens in the years that follow.
Of course, we also can’t wait to see their bond unfold on the big screen, and Bailey says she’ll always remind Hauer-King of how much fun they had together. Hauer-King says he’d remind her of those important feelings too, and of the moment when he almost broke her legs.
Bailey: Wow, I think we’ll just remind each other of how beautiful of an experience this was and just tell each other how proud we are of each other. We both put a lot of hard work into this, and it was a really nice bond that we got to create together.
Hauer-King: I’d remind you of that, but I’d also remind you of the time I nearly broke your legs whilst we were filming the underwater tank stuff when Ariel saves Eric.
Okay, look, he didn’t actually nearly break her legs, but the weight of his boots and how he was flailing his legs around as Ariel was saving Prince Eric made it a hard day on Bailey’s legs. It was so tough that Hauer-King jokes that he’d still ask her if she has the bruises decades later.
“I had my big boots on, and I was kicking Halle in the shins by accident. So she was very brave that day, and I’d probably remind her of that and ask her if she still has the bruises.”
Here’s hoping her legs are bruise-free, and that the feeling they have now, the magic they embody, stays with them for decades to come. We know it’ll stay with us. You can see The Little Mermaid when it swims into theaters on May 26.
