The news broke today that actress Melissa McCarthy is working out a deal with Disney to play Ursula in a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. This is also the first anyone has heard of a remake for this film.
You’re probably groaning at the hint of yet another live-action remake of a Renaissance Disney Animated Movie that was just fine in its original form. It’s about the money, folks — you keep paying ’em and they’ll keep making ’em. That abominable Will Smith Genie has raked over 200 mil, and that’s just the domestic receipts. So here we are.
What I want to know is why “Little Mermaid” was skipped over when Disney started making these things. Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King have all gotten theirs. We had Mulan and Lilo & Stitch confirmed BEFORE we ever heard about the 1989 film that revitalized the world’s most famous animation factory. Why the delay? Was it due to the expense of making a live-action picture that has to be 50% underwater? Was it due to the fact that the original is basically about a 16-year-old girl who runs off and marries some guy she’s known for a week?
It’s doubly as weird to hear about casting for Ursula before anyone else. We can speculate, though. One of those actors named Chris will probably be cast as Eric. Dwayne Johnson in a pasted-on Spirit Halloween beard as King Triton. Flounder? Will Smith again.
It most likely means barely anyone has been cast yet. Our suggestion for a live-action Ariel? Easy. Sherri Stoner.
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