The Little Mermaid Live! (NOT THE REMAKE) on ABC
 

Disney might be working on a live-action remake with Rob Marshall as the director, but they've just announced that another project based on the beloved animated movie is happening. The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid Live! , which was originally announced to air back in 2017, has been revived. The special will have a “never-before-seen hybrid format” and will “feature beautifully intricate sets and costumes, with music from the original.” Auli'i Cravalho (Moana) has been cast as Ariel, Queen Latifah will be playing Ursula, and Shaggy has landed the role of Sebastian. The special will air on ABC November 5. Cravalho and Latifah will be perfect for their parts, but I don't know what to think of Shaggy.

ABC doing Little Mermaid Live starring Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah

Here is our first look at the set . Since ABC is going to air this in November, it will mark 30 years to the month since the original film was first released.

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This article has plenty of details about what to expect from the special.

‘Little Mermaid’ Live Musical: Auli’i Cravalho, Shaggy & Hamish Hamilton Go Under The Sea To Describe ABC’s “Interesting Hybrid” – TCA

This portrayal will be closer to the animated film. Love Auli’l, I’m confident she can deliver as does Queen Latifah.

It seems that Queen Latifah can't wait to go under the sea this November on ABC.

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https://www.instagram.com/p/B0zG-CzD...ource=ig_embed

I love the casting of Auli'i Cravalho as Ariel

Wow she’s perfect as Ursula.

Another woman who might be playing Ursula in another project can't wait to see Queen Latifah do it. She also being coy about her involvement with the film when she asked if she would ever do a duet with her.

Melissa McCarthy Praises Queen Latifah Casting as Ursula in ABC’s Live ‘The Little Mermaid’

She also posed as Ursula back in 2011 for the Disney Dream Portrait Series as an advertisement for the Disney Parks.

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https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...eam-portraits/

I’ll be disappointed if McCarthy doesn’t exceed Latifah’s already high standard.

This special is apparently going to serve as the launchpad for the Disney+ streaming service. ABC network president Karey Burke also believes that if this TV performance is a ratings success, then the network will do more in the future depending on the property. Plus, the fast-track decision to revive the project was also based the original film celebrating its 30th anniversary.

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/lit...us-1203292569/

This was Aulii Cravalho's reaction when she found that she cast as Ariel:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yup8ZAC5z/

She hasn't reached out to Halle Bailey yet, but here's what she would say to her.

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/247...ermaid-casting

This is a really nice passing the torch moment. Jodi will always be the true Ariel to me and lots of other people though.

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https://d23.com/d23-expo-goes-under-...y-celebration/

John Stamos has been cast as Chef Louis and Graham Phillips will be playing Prince Eric.

https://deadline.com/2019/09/john-st...st-1202744462/

The first promo has been released and we get to see the cast in costume.

ABC has hired Amber Riley to serve as the master of ceremonies.

https://deadline.com/2019/10/the-lit...bc-1202756407/

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the special.

Here's a close up of the actors in character.

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https://ew.com/tv/the-little-mermaid...540921#6540921

I think Auli'i Cravalho is going to knock it out of the ballpark in about a week from now.

https://www.eonline.com/videos/29783...e-mermaid-live

We also have a sneak peek of the special's choreography.

Queen Latifah is really going to kill "Poor Unfortunate Souls".

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3392533577431117

I found only small bits and pieces of the show to be entertaining. The BIGGEST problem was that it really wasn't the smartest idea for ABC and Disney to air the animated movie alongside these live performances. Even when you take the musical numbers out of the animated movie and have singers/actors perform them, you realize how SUPERIOR the animated movie is. Queen Latifah was still solid, but yeah if I were running ABC I wouldn't try this again. If the ratings are good though, then there will of course be more of these.

Caught bits and pieces of this last night while it aired. Ridiculous how much of the show was just the original movie being shown. It was clear Disney only wanted to do a few big numbers that people know and not fully commit like the other live musicals have done. Disappointing, especially after all the prerelease hype they set for it.

Also, that Flounder puppet stared into souls, man. What happened there?

In case any of you missed the special, it is now available for streaming on Disney+

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https://twitter.com/disneyplus/statu...15754769690625