It’s no “Harry Styles playing Prince Eric,” but this seems like a good move for Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid: According to Variety, Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs is currently “in talks” to take on the role of Sebastian in the movie, meaning he would get two of the best songs from the original movie and he would get to play a talking crab. On a related note, one of the big hooks of this new take on the story is that Lin-Manuel Miranda (from Hamilton!) is working on some new songs with original composer Alan Menken, so Sebastian might even end up getting a few more good songs by the time this thing actually gets made.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, with Javier Bardem in talks to play her father King Triton, Melissa McCarthy playing Ursula, Awkwafina possibly playing Scuttle the seagull , and Jacob Tremblay possibly playing Flounder the fish. For those who haven’t seen the original, it’s about a girl who lives under the sea and wants to be part of that world that is above the sea, so she makes a deal with a sea witch—who has a nasty habit of tricking poor, unfortunate souls—to trade her voice for a pair of legs. There’s a prince who has to kiss the girl, and there’s a chef who… also gets a song for some reason?
Anyway, this is not to be confused with ABC’s live TV Little Mermaid musical, which is also happening.
19 Comments
I’d be on board with this but I’d REALLY be on board if he plays Sebastian as Thomas Jefferson from Hamilton.
It never fails to amuse me that Daveed Diggs lives a double life as a hardcore noise-rapper and as a Tony-winning star of the stage.
I saw Clipping when they came through Chicago. What a phenomenal show they put on.
Looking forward to the new album this month, the first 3 tracks they’ve released are killer. John Carpenter influenced Clippng album? Yes please thankyou
That crab’s gonna have a rap in Under the Sea.
For a moment I thought Daveed Diggs was in talks to play Li’l Sebastian.
I shouldn’t get more upset about these Disney re-makes than I do about gun violence, right?But, you know, emotions are what they are because American institutions feel no shame.
Disney’s already remade more than half its Disney Renaissance animated films. I wonder which vault they’re going to raid once they remake Pocahontas, Hunchback, Hercules, and The Emperor’s New Groove. Fuckin’ Atlantis?
That’s actually one that may be served better in live action.
Live-action Emperor’s New Groove could be good, so long as they make it while Rita Moreno is still able to play Yzma.
Atlantis could be pretty damn good. Lean way into the 20,000 Leagues aesthetic with a solid cast. I’d watch. Probably not in a theater, but I’d watch.
I hope this movie is set under Chesapeake Bay.LAFAYETTE
I had a confusing roller-coaster of reactions in myself as I first thought wow black girl as the mermaid and black guy as the prince and then oh no almost 20 years difference! And then realized it’s actually the crab. A lot going on before I actually read the article
Hope it’s the incel version of the character.
He’s going to play a beloved miniature horse?
This seems correct.
Dulé Hill or bust… cause he’s Jamaica Inspector Man…
>and there’s a chef who… also gets a song for some reason?The only reason that song is there is to showcase one of the best rhyming couplets in history. Can you imagine Ashman’s giddy joy when he came up with:Les poissons, les poissonsHee hee hee HONH HONH HONHAlso Rene Auberjonois is a national treasure.
Ummmm are we really okay with a Jewish guy voicing an animated JAMAICAN crab?