It’s officially here: Disney has released the first look at their upcoming live-action film adaptation of the classic “The Little Mermaid”, and it’s shining brighter than any star on the shore.
A teaser trailer for the movie debuted with a flurry of majestic visuals, reminiscent of Sofia Coppola and Kenneth Branagh’s more ornate adaptations of classic novels by Jane Austen and William Shakespeare, which promises a darker and more engrossing story than the classic animated version.
The trailer opens to the mermaid princess Ariel singing to a sea of twinkling starfish, highlighting her stunning beauty and captivatingly sweet vocals. We also get a first glimpse at the love interest of the story, the handsome Prince Eric, played by Golden Globe winner Harry Styles, who’s framed by a glorious palace balcony.
Elsewhere in the trailer, we get a taste of the alluring Disney villainy, with the inimitable Melissa McCarthy playing Ursula, the evil sea witch, who’s an even more threatening presence, lurking in the shadows of the ocean. The always-charming Lin-Manuel Mirandais will also appear as Ariel’s wisecracking sidekick Sebastian, the Caribbean crab.
The trailer gives us a look into the sweeping underwater world, which is populated by all sorts of marine life, from the pink-tinted coral reefs to soaring seagulls and waddling puffins.
Based on the trailer, the live-action “The Little Mermaid” promises to be just as captivating and breathtaking as the original. And if this first look is any indication, Disney is about to pack a whole lot more than ‘just’ beauty, laughter and romance into “The Little Mermaid”.
The film is expected to arrive later this year, and we’re already brimming with anticipation.
