Calling all The Little Mermaid fans! Walt Disney Studios has released a new teaser trailer for their live-action version of The Little Mermaid, which will release on May 26, 2023. The film, which stars Halle Bailey, is one of the most talked about movies of the year. Fans are thrilled to see more footage from ‘under-the-sea,’ and we are even treated to a first look at Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula!
New Teaser Shows Us Life under the Sea
This new teaser from Walt Disney Studios shows us the playful and colorful world we will get to see in theatres this May. In addition to hearing some beautiful Alan Menken music, the teaser trailer shows us some significant new bits from the film. We see some playful moments between Princess Ariel and some sea animals. Ariel plays with a pufferfish, some jellyfish, and her pal flounder. The world of this live-action movie looks stunning.
One of the most fun moments from the teaser was seeing a glimpse of some other mermaids. These mermaids could very likely be Ariel’s other sisters. In The Little Mermaid, Princess Ariel has six older sisters. They names are Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, and Andrina. The mermaids in the trailer look gorgeous; the artistry that is seen in this film so far looks unbelievable.
The big reveal of the teaser was getting a sneak-peak of Ursula. Actress and comedienne Melissa McCarthy will play Ursula in the upcoming film. Ursula is one of the most iconic and beloved villains in all Disney movies, so McCarthy will have big shoes (or scales) to fill. From the brief snippet we see of her, McCarthy’s Ursula will look very similar to the Ursula we know from the original movie. Her bleach-blonde hair, pointed eyebrows, and heavy eyeshadow seems to be making a reappearance in the upcoming movie.
We also get a glipse of Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric in what looks to be the “Kiss the Girl” scene from the movie.
This new teaser has made fans more excited than ever to see the film come May 26, 2023. In addition to Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and Jonah Hauer-King, the movie will also star Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flouder, and Lin Manuel Miranda as Le Chef Louis.
Disney has released a new teaser for its live-action 'The Little Mermaid' starring Halle Bailey. pic.twitter.com/XHCib8jdAY
It seems so hard to believe, but 2022 is now in the rearview mirror and the excitement and potential of 2023 are laid before our feet. I don’t know about you, but my 2023 definitely involves a lot of Disney! Trips to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, or any other Disney theme park are always memorable, but they are expensive. However, there’s another way to get your Disney fix that’s much cheaper. That’s right, we are talking about Disney movies!
2023 is going to be a big year for Disney films. Let’s take a look at some of the most anticipated Disney movies of the year!
The Little Mermaid
Release Date: May 26
Disney’s new live-action remake of one of its most classic tales may be THE most anticipated Disney movie of the year. The Little Mermaid live-action film will stick heavily to the original animated movie, but there will be unique additions. In the new movie, Prince Eric will have more character development, and his mother will be introduced. Disney Legend Alan Menken and Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda will also write new music.
The Little Mermaid will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.
Peter Pan & Wendy
Release Date: March 10 (Disney+)
What makes this Disney movie great is that you can watch the premiere from the comfort of your own couch!
It’s been a while since Disney has given us a fresh, new look at the boy who never wanted to grow up. But, come this March, we will no longer be able to say that. At this time, we don’t know much about the story that Disney will tell with Peter Pan & Wendy. However, it will most likely be close to the original story that most of us know and love. Select Guests who attended Disney’s D23 Expo this past September were given an exclusive trailer, which featured the Lost Boys, a look at Peter Pan, with a closeout on the villainous Captain Hook.
Peter Pan & Wendy will star Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Jim Gaffigan as Smee, and Jude Law as Captain Hook.
The Haunted Mansion
Release Date: August 11
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am most excited to see this movie, not only because of the phenomenal casting, but also to see if Disney can come back from the 2003 disaster version that starred Eddie Murphy. This new live-action remake will take place in New Orleans, where the spirits definitely love to come out to socialize. The Haunted Mansion will tell the story of a single mom, Gabbie, who moves into the old Southern mansion with her son. As you may have guessed, the mansion is haunted and Gabbie hires a priest, a historian, a tour guide, and a psychic to help her expel the spirits.
The Haunted Mansion will star Rosario Dawson as Gabbie, Chase Dillon as Gabbie’s son, Owen Wilson as Kent the priest, Danny DeVito as the historian, Tiffany Haddish as Harriet, and LaKeith Stanfield as Ben Matthias. There will also be some classic attraction characters thrown into the mix — Jamie Lee Curtis will play Madame Leota, and Jared Leto will play the Hatbox Ghost.
Elemental
Release Date: June 16
Much like Inside Out, Elemental will take viewers on a journey they have not been on before. This movie will tell the story of a land where the elements — Earth, Air, Fire, and Water — live together. As with many places, those who are alike tend to stick together, and one element group doesn’t really interact with the other elements. However, fiery Ember and go-with-the-flow Wade will soon realize that they have more in common than they ever would have imagined.
At this time, we don’t have much to share on casting news. All Disney has shared is that Wade will be voiced by Mamoudou Athie as Wade and Leah Lewis as Ember.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release Date: June 30
This will most likely be the last time we see legendary actor Harrison Ford don his iconic fedora and take on the role of famed archaeologist Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones. Dial of Destiny will see Indy and his goddaughter, Helena, go up against Nazis once again, but this time during the height of the space race. However, this time, the U.S. government has hired former Nazis to help them beat the Soviet Union into space, as well as be the first country to land on the moon.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, Mads Mikkelsen as Jürgen Voller, Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, Toby Jones as Basil, and Johnathan Rhys-Davies as Sallah. Shia LaBoeuf will not return as Mutt Williams, but audiences will learn what happened to Indy’s son.
Wish
Release Date: November 22
This movie is the most recent announcement from Walt Disney Animation. Disney has not given us too many details on what story Wish will tell, but director Chris Buck has said that the film will be “Blending this beautiful, timeless watercolor style with 3D animation, ‘Wish’ has a look and feel all its own, unlike anything Disney Animation has created.” What we do know is that viewers will learn how the iconic wishing star came into existence.
As with Disney movies of the past, Wish will have a selfless hero, a ruthless villain, and a talking goat. Okay, so maybe it won’t be just like the Disney movies we have seen before. Not much casting information has been released, but we do know that Alan Tudyk will voice Valentino and Ariana DeBose will voice Asha.
Of course, if you are a Marvel fan, there will also be several movies released for you to love, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, and The Marvels.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort were being discontinued, and the rooms would be redesigned. The rooms fit in well with the laid-back tropical theme of the hotel, and the small details made the rooms truly immersive, but the rooms were not as popular as Disney had hoped — due to their higher price and their distance from the food and merchandise areas of Caribbean Beach.
Now we are getting a first look at the new rooms, and they don’t take Guests onboard a pirate ship. Instead, they take them under the sea! That’s right, the new rooms are themed after the hit Disney film The Little Mermaid.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort recently added some fin-tastic touches to guest rooms in the Trinidad area of the resort, and cast members were excited to be the first to “sea” them! These new 5th sleeper rooms accommodate more guests and feature special touches inspired by the timeless story “The Little Mermaid.” They are among the newest of the ongoing enhancements happening at our Resort hotels all around Walt Disney World! #DisneyCastLife 🦀 🌊 🌴
Haven’t stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort before? Here’s more on the laid-back tropical paradise that transports you right to the islands, while being close to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Discover a world where life slows to a leisurely pace and worries melt away amidst Calypso rhythms. Awash with vibrant colors and lush landscapes, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort transports Guests to a relaxing paradise that captures the essence of 5 distinct islands: Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad and Aruba. Celebrate the spirit of the Caribbean with blissful sights and fun-filled activities—including colonial forts, lively markets, pristine beaches, splashy florals and swaying hammocks—sure to awaken the imagination
At this time, we do not know when the new Little Mermaid rooms will be available for booking. The Walt Disney World Resort website allows bookings up through May 18, 2023, and the site has not updated the rooms, so it still says that the Pirate Rooms are unavailable.
Disney Dining will keep an eye out and let readers know when the Little Mermaid rooms open up for Guests.
Out of the sea, wish I could be… part of that world. Disney’s The Little Mermaid is coming to theaters May 26, 2023.
“The Little Mermaid,” visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall’s live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar®-winning animated musical classic, opens exclusively in theaters nationwide May 26, 2023. “The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. 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 film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton,” “Snowpiercer”) as the voice of Sebastian; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca,” “Room”) as the voice of Flounder; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Prince Eric; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as Queen Selina; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula.
“The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”), and written by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”), with a live-action story adaptation by David Magee, Rob Marshall, and two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), based on the short story by Hans Christian Andersen, and the Disney animated film by Ron Clements and John Musker. The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,” “In the Heights”), Rob Marshall, and John DeLuca, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer. The score is by multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”), who won two Oscars® for the music in the animated version of “The Little Mermaid,” with music supervised and produced by Mike Higham (“Mary Poppins Returns,” “Into the Woods”). Music is by Alan Menken, lyrics are by Howard Ashman and new lyrics are by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
We have some very sad news to report on Disney fans. Pat Carroll, known to many as the voice of one of Disney’s most iconic villains, has died at the age of 95. Carroll catapulted to Disney legend status in 1989 when she voiced Ursula the sea witch in the film The Little Mermaid. Carroll’s gruff, low-pitched voice and the incredible inflection in her voice made her the perfect person to voice Ursula. Carroll not only voiced Ursula in The Little Mermaid, but reprised the role for The Little Mermaid series, as well as Little Mermaid read-along books and video games.
Deadline Hollywood was one of the first to break the news of Carroll’s death, revealing that she died while covering from pneumonia. Per Deadline:
Comedian and actress Pat Carroll, a television pioneer and an Emmy, Drama Desk and Grammy winner, died at her home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts on July 30, while recovering from pnuemonia.
A frequent film actress and television guest star and series regular starting in the late 1940s, her work was seen on the Jimmy Durante Show, The Danny Thomas Show, Laverne & Shirley, ER and many other shows. She voiced Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and voiced several cartoon series.
Patricia Ann Carroll was born May 5, 1927 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was five years old, and she soon began acting in local productions. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High Schol and then attended Catholic University of America after enlisting in the US Army.
Carroll’s acting career started in 1947 with the film Hometown Girl. In 1956, Carroll won an Emmy Award for her work on Sid Caesar’s House, and was a regular on the sitcom Make Room for Daddy from 1961 to 1964.
She also appeared on many variety shows of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, including shows headlined by Steve Allen, Red Buttons, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton and Carol Burnett. In 1965 she costarred as “Prunella,” one of the wicked stepsisters in the 1965 production of the musical version of Cinderella.
Carroll won several theater awards for her one-woman show on Gertrude Stein, and the recorded version won a 1980 Grammy for Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama.
While Carroll said in the past that voicing Ursula was one of her favorite roles, it was not the first time that she worked with The Walt Disney Company. In 1976, Carroll appeared on the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley, where she played Lily Feeney, Shirley’s mother, in an episode titled Mother Knows Worst.
Disney is currently working on a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, with comedian Melissa McCarthy taking over the role as the evil sea witch. The film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 26, 2023.
Carroll is survived by her daughters, Kerry Karsian, Tara Karsian and granddaughter Evan Karsian-McCormick.
