In the heart of Hollywood, the evening sparkled with enchantment as the world premiere of Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” splashed onto the scene at the iconic Dolby Theater. Cast, filmmakers, and celebrity guests gathered to toast the film’s upcoming launch. The highly anticipated reimagining of the studio’s Oscar®-winning animated musical classic, ‘The Little Mermaid,’ directed by the visionary Rob Marshall, is set to make waves in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Star-Studded Ocean of Talent

The film’s ensemble cast includes the charismatic Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Noma Dumezweni, and Art Malik. They joined visionary director/producer Rob Marshall, screenwriter David Magee, producers Marc Platt and John DeLuca, composer Alan Menken, and executive producer Jeffrey Silver. A parade of celebrity guests added to the night’s glow, including Jodi Benson, Heidi Klum, Yvette Nicole Brown, Anika Noni Rose, Eric Benet, John Stamos, Ellen Pompeo, Alyssa Milano, and more.

“The Little Mermaid” has long captured hearts with its tale of Ariel, a young, adventurous mermaid with an insatiable curiosity. Ariel, the youngest and most headstrong of King Triton’s daughters, yearns to explore the world beyond her ocean home. Her heart skips a beat when she encounters the handsome Prince Eric on one of her forbidden surface visits. While mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. Risking everything for love, Ariel strikes a precarious deal with the sinister sea witch, Ursula. While this pact gives her a taste of life on land, it also endangers her life and her father’s kingdom.

Our new Ariel is singer and actress Halle Bailey, known from “grown-ish”, while the charming Jonah Hauer-King of “A Dog’s Way Home” fame plays Prince Eric. The talented ensemble also includes Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as Sebastian, Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) voicing Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) as Flounder, Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as The Queen, Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby, 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.

Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) takes the helm of this undersea adventure, accompanied by a screenplay from two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The unforgettable songs, composed by multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hamilton,’ “In the Heights”). The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer, are poised to get audiences singing along, just as they did with the beloved animated original.

Disney’s live-action reimagining of “The Little Mermaid” promises to bring a fresh tide of enchantment to the timeless tale, adding a new layer of depth to the magic of Disney storytelling. So, are you ready to dive back into the enchanting world of “The Little Mermaid”?