‘The Little Mermaid’ Director Rob Marshall Says Disney Remake Is ‘The Most Challenging Film I’ve Ever Done’
thewrap.comFilmmaker Rob Marshall has spent a long time thinking about “The Little Mermaid.” Nearly five years, to be exact. When speaking to the Oscar-winning director about the 20th anniversary of “Chicago” (and a new deluxe home video release), he offered an update on his live-action redo of the 1989 Disney animated film, due in theaters this May. “I’m very excited to be finishing up after four-and-a-half years,” Marshall said. “It’s a long time.”Marshall’s version of “The Little Mermaid” stars Halle Bailey in the title role of Ariel, with Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton, with Daveed Diggs voicing Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay voicing Flounder and Awkwafina voicing Scuttle.
The first footage from the film, which features new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and original composer Alan Menken, was screened at last year’s D23 Expo to a rapturous response.“I’m very proud of the film.
It’s the most challenging film I’ve ever done, for sure. No question,” Marshall said. “Using complicated, cutting-edge techniques to make this work.
I don’t think anybody’s ever done an underwater musical before. I have to say every single moment of the film had to be choreographed in advance so that we could have a flow to the whole piece.
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