The Little Mermaid is a 2023 American musical fantasy film that serves as a live-action remake of Disney’s 1989 animated classic, which is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairy tale. This film is produced by Walt Disney Pictures, DeLuca Marshall, and Marc Platt Productions. Directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee. The Little Mermaid (2023) garnered mixed reviews from critics and perform well at the Box Office, earning $569.6 million globally against a production budget of $240.2 million, making it Disney’s twenty-third most costly film production to date.
The story centers on Ariel, a mermaid princess captivated by the human realm; after rescuing Prince Eric from a shipwreck, she strikes a bargain with the sea witch Ursula to gain the ability to walk on land. The decision to remake the 1989 classic was announced in May 2016.
By December 2017, Disney revealed that Marshall was being considered to direct the project. Between July and November 2019, Bailey, Hauer-King, McCarthy, Bardem, Diggs, Tremblay, Awkwafina, and the rest of the cast were confirmed.
Although production was slated to start in London in late March or early April 2020, it faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately taking place from January to July 2021, mainly at Pinewood Studios in England and on the island of Sardinia, Italy.
Composer Alan Menken returned to enhance the score and create new songs in collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is also a producer alongside Platt, John DeLuca, and Marshall. This film is dedicated to the memory of Howard Ashman, who co-produced and co-wrote the songs for the original movie.
The Little Mermaid made it’s debut at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023, and was subsequently released in the United States on May 26 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Financial estimates suggest that Disney incurred a loss of $5 million due to the inflated budget, marketing expenses, and the share of ticket sales that theaters retain.
