Who plays Vanessa in 'The Little Mermaid'? We delve into the star cast of "The Little Mermaid," revealing the actress behind Vanessa and highlighting other key members of the ensemble.'The Little Mermaid' Wiki
"The Little Mermaid" is a 2023 American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall, based on Disney's 1989 animated film of the same name, which was in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.
Article continues below advertisementThe movie stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and features Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy in supporting roles. The story follows Ariel, a mermaid princess who longs to be part of the human world and strikes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to trade her voice for a chance to be with Prince Eric.
Plans for a remake of "The Little Mermaid" were confirmed in May 2016, with Rob Marshall announced as the director in December 2017. The cast, including Halle Bailey, was confirmed between July and November 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the production faced delays, but filming eventually took place in England and Italy from January to July 2021. The film features a score by Alan Menken, who worked on the original film, and new songs co-written by Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"The Little Mermaid" premiered in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023, and was released in the United States on May 26, showcasing various formats such as RealD 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and regular theaters. The movie received positive reviews for the performances of the cast, particularly Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and Daveed Diggs, as well as the musical sequences. However, some criticism was directed towards the visual effects and character designs.
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During the audition process, Marshall recalls asking the actresses to sing, even though singing wouldn't be required for the film. He was impressed by Jessica's performance, despite her not being a singer and she is an unknown actress Jessica Alexander Marshall commends her acting and the way she portrayed the singing, noting her beauty and charisma. He was thrilled to witness her transformation into the sea witch character during the audition.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementAlexander's casting decision came later in the process, and Marshall intentionally chose a relatively unknown actress for the role. He wanted to avoid casting too many well-known actors, especially since Melissa McCarthy was already playing Ursula. Marshall explains that it would have felt odd to have another familiar face portraying the character of Vanessa.
Apart from McCarthy, the cast includes recognizable names such as Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Chef Louis.
Despite being newer to the scene, Marshall emphasizes that Alexander's performance was fearless and outstanding. He praises her as an extraordinary actress who truly understands her craft, despite her young age. Marshall explains that during the audition process, they initially reviewed many taped performances before narrowing down the selection and working with the chosen actors in person.
Article continues below advertisementThe Little Mermaid (2023) Cast
Character
Actor
Ariel Halle Bailey Prince Eric Jonah Hauer-King Ursula Melissa McCarthy King Triton Javier Bardem Sebastian Daveed Diggs Scuttle Awkwafina Flounder Jacob Tremblay
The Little Mermaid Plot
Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton and a mermaid princess from Atlantica, has a deep fascination with the human world, despite being forbidden from visiting the surface by her father. Accompanied by her friends Flounder and Scuttle, Ariel collects human objects and dreams of exploring the unknown. One day, she rescues Prince Eric from a shipwreck and sings to him with her enchanting voice before fleeing the scene.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementTriton, concerned about Ariel's behavior, learns of her encounter with Eric and confronts her. After destroying her collection of human items, Ariel is approached by Ursula, a sea witch and Triton's estranged sister. Ursula offers to transform Ariel into a human for three days, during which she must receive true love's kiss from Eric to remain human permanently. Ariel accepts the deal and loses her tail, voice, and ability to breathe underwater.
With the help of Flounder and Sebastian, Ariel arrives on land and is taken to Eric's castle. Although excited to reunite with Ariel, Eric is disheartened by her inability to speak. As they spend time together, Ariel's friends, noticing the spell's flaw, try to orchestrate a kiss between Ariel and Eric. However, Ursula, disguised as a woman named Vanessa, uses Ariel's voice to hypnotize Eric and announces her engagement to him.
Scuttle exposes Vanessa's true identity to Ariel, who confronts Ursula during the engagement party. With the nautilus shell containing her voice broken, Ariel's voice is restored, and Eric is freed from the enchantment. Before they can kiss, the sun sets, and Ariel transforms back into a mermaid. Ursula grabs Ariel and dives into the ocean.
Article continues below advertisementTriton confronts Ursula but realizes the unbreakable nature of the deal. He sacrifices himself for Ariel, and Ursula claims his trident. Eric arrives to help, and in the ensuing struggle, Ursula accidentally kills her own eels. Enraged, she grows into a monstrous size and summons a storm. Ariel manages to impale Ursula, using a ship's splintered bowsprit.
With Ursula defeated, Triton is revived, and Eric and Ariel's love is acknowledged. Triton accepts that Ariel's happiness lies with Eric and, on Sebastian's advice, transforms her into a human permanently. Ariel and Eric decide to embark on a journey together, supported by their parents and their respective worlds.
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Who Plays Vanessa In 'The Little Mermaid-FAQs
1. What is "The Little Mermaid" about?"The Little Mermaid" is a story about a young mermaid princess named Ariel who longs to explore the human world. She strikes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for a limited time, hoping to win the love of Prince Eric. However, Ariel must face challenges and sacrifices along the way.
2. When was "The Little Mermaid" originally released?The animated film "The Little Mermaid" was released by Disney in 1989. The live-action adaptation was released in 2023.
3. Who directed the live-action version of "The Little Mermaid"?The live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" was directed by Rob Marshall.
4. Who plays the role of Ariel in the live-action film?Halle Bailey portrays the character of Ariel in the live-action adaptation.
5. How was the reception of the film?The film received praise for the performances of the cast, particularly Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and Daveed Diggs, as well as the musical sequences. However, some criticism was directed towards the visual effects and character designs.
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