The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[D82]

Here are the full lyrics of all the songs. They've been taken from the hi-res version of the photo of the vinyl Farerb posted, where it's possible to read them.

Part of Your World
Fathoms Bellow
Part of Your World (Reprise)
Under The Sea
Wild Uncharted Waters
Poor Unfortunate Souls
For the First Time
Kiss the Girl
The Scuttlebutt
Part of Your World (Reprise II)

Did they announce anything about a deluxe edition? It'll be extremely disappointing if they don't release something like that with the complete score. That's pretty much the only thing I'm looking forward to.

I haven't heard anything about a deluxe edition. I hope it's still announced, but I don't know if that's still possible or not. Shouldn't it have been announced by now if there was going to be one? If I'm not mistaken, Aladdin didn't get a deluxe edition, but its soundtrack had at least a lot of score tracks. Disenchanted, though, only had one, so maybe this is what Disney does now? I hope not, but who knows.

In addition, who's doing the end credit songs?

Someone in this forum said that Halle Bailey recorded a new song for the end credits, but I wonder why it's not included in the soundtrack?

Yes, she recorded a song written by Diane Warren and herself titled "Somewhere We All Belong" and it was most likely related to the movie because Halle included a mermaid emoji in one of the two tweets she posted about this. On the other tweet, she appeared alongside Diane in a recording studio and the same sheet of paper with the lyrics could be seen in a second photo.

We weren't totally sure, though, if the song was for the movie itself, or for example, an album with songs inspired by the movie like the ones they did for the remakes of The Lion King or Alice in Wonderland. Since it's not on the vinyl, now I doubt it'll be in the movie itself, though it would be weird if there wasn't any end credit song at all, so I'm not 100% sure. And I think if there was going to be an album with songs inspired by the film, it should've been announced by now too. Perhaps, the song was just cut from the movie and will be featured in some album by Halle in the future?

I like the fact that there is a second Part of your world reprise. Will it be during the scene where Ariel watches Eric's wedding ship depart?

I think so.

[D82]

Rob Marshall talks about the lyric changes in "Kiss the Girl":

As director Rob Marshall revealed in a recent press release for The Little Mermaid, the decision to update "Kiss the Girl" was made to be "respectful" of how society has changed since the animated film first debuted.

"We asked Lin-Manuel to make some slight adjustments to the original lyrics for 'Kiss the Girl,' because it's important to remember that the culture and sensitivities have changed over the last 34 years, and it's vital that we are respectful to those changes," Marshall explained.

Source: https://comicbook.com/movies/news/the-l ... ic-change/


The new lyrics are the two verses in bold below, which replace "There is one way to ask her. It don't take a word, not a single word". There are also some new backing vocals by Flounder and Scuttle.

Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
Possible she want you too
Use your words, boy, and ask her
If the time is right and the time is tonight
Go on and kiss the girl

As for "Poor Unfortunate Souls", the part about men preferring women who don't talk has been omitted and not replaced with new lyrics. However, there are a couple more lyric changes (spoilers ahead because they have to do with some story changes).

This:

Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll

has been replaced with this:

Pluck a scale from off your tail
A drop of blood inside the bowl!

because in this version Ariel doesn't sign a scroll, but signs the deal by ripping a scale from her tail and putting it into the cauldron.

And this part:

Larynxes, glacydis, ad max
Laryngitis la voce to me

has been changed a bit:

Amnesia, glossitis et max laryngitis
La voce to me!

That's because in this film Ursula puts a secret spell on Ariel so she doesn't remember she has to be kissed by Eric before the three days end. I learned about these changes from this video.

I guess they replaced the scroll with the scale due to the criticism that in the original Ariel knows how to write, but doesn't try to tell Eric the truth by writing. As for the second change, that's the one I personally found most stupid of the ones we've heard so far, but I guess they did it so she and Eric can fall in love in a "natural" way. I think Sebastian will eventually remind Ariel of that rule of the deal with Ursula, but they'll probably make if difficult for him to find her or something.

[Disney Duster]

I actually do not mind the new "Kiss the Girl" lyrics. I also do not mind the scale instead of a contract change, but, why not just have mermaids write in another language? It's that simple! And the amnesia thing, well, it's not too bad to me. We shall see if it helps or hinders the film. Maybe it adds some good drama, who knows.

[Vlad]

After reading the lyrics to the second reprise of Part of your world, i think it's safe to assume that it'll take place when Ariel watches Eric's wedding ship departing. But I was expecting them to use the one from the Music Behind the Magic set.

I'd give my life, I'd sell my soul
'Cause I can feel I'll never be whole
But I can see I'll never be part of your world.

[D82]

I forgot to say that I love that new image of Ariel. The whole set looks very classy. A similar pose is being used as promotion on buses and taxies:


Source: https://twitter.com/H0NxJCWqGIAOwIx/sta ... 8580707330


Source: https://twitter.com/CashewAunt2/status/ ... 6740395009

And here's a new banner, but I don't know where it's from. I hope we get hi-res version soon. There's also a display with two of the costumes at AMC Century City LA.


Source: https://twitter.com/TheCursedPrinc/stat ... 1564755968

Are you referring to this one?

Here's a widescreen version of that TV spot. And here are some new ones. In the last two we can finally hear Eric talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oacJbKy1NZ0
https://www.tiktok.com/@esailower/video ... 2646658310
https://twitter.com/KITKATSWAGG/status/ ... 3772973091

A clip from "Part of Your World" has leaked as well.

[Sotiris]

‘Little Mermaid’ To Do Backflips Over Memorial Day Weekend With $110M Opening
https://deadline.com/2023/05/box-office ... 235356151/

[PatchofBlue]

Yeah ... I just have no idea what the secret amnesia spell is supposed to add to the conversation. Were they just hungry for ways to make this film more convoluted?

If Part of Your World does end up being the first song, then it really will be a while before we hear any music in this film. That's not exactly great karma for a movie musical.

[robster16]

‘Little Mermaid’ To Do Backflips Over Memorial Day Weekend With $110M Opening
https://deadline.com/2023/05/box-office ... 235356151/

I’ll be smiling from ear to ear when this is a smash hit both critically and financially and it proves certain people on this forum and other online platforms dead wrong… fingers crossed!

[Farerb]

I'm pretty sure it'll do well. From what I've seen both online and IRL people are looking forward to this film, and I'm pretty sure that even people who plan to hate it will watch it.

Regarding critics, I predict a 6.0-7.3 score and an RT percentage of 60-75%, audience percentage will be 30-40%.

[Sotiris]

I forgot to say that I love that new image of Ariel. The whole set looks very classy. A similar pose is being used as promotion on buses and taxies.

I prefer the one used on the buses and taxies. It's much more appealing.

And here's a new banner, but I don't know where it's from.

I like this banner too, especially Ariel's section.

I’ll be smiling from ear to ear when this is a smash hit both critically and financially and it proves certain people on this forum and other online platforms dead wrong… fingers crossed!

While I'm rooting for the film's success too, let's not pretend it will do so based on its own merits. It's because of how beloved the original is. Not because of the cast or the changes they made or whatever, but in spite of them.

[D82]

Some more promos. In the first one, we can see a glimpse of Ursula talking to Ariel through the vortex Flotsam and Jetsam create.

Facebook promo 1
Facebook promo 2
Halle Bailey Disney Parks Ariel Announcement
Don't Talk PSA from Alamo Drafthouse
Freeform promo

More merch! May not all be new, but some of it is new to me: https://wdwnt.com/2023/04/photos-new-me ... ney-world/

Has this been the most heavily merchandised remake? It seems like it to me, but that might just be because I pay more attention to TLM.

Thanks for posting! Here are also some plushies of Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle and a 3D Bag Clip Series I don't think I had seen before. I don't pay much attention to merchandise in general, so I don't know if this is the one to get more merch, but I'm surprised too by how many products it's getting.

Halle Bailey's ‘The Little Mermaid’ Doll Is Already a Bestseller
https://www.etonline.com/halle-baileys- ... urs-200836

The prequel novel is too.

‘The Little Mermaid’: Inside Rob Marshall’s Private Screening With Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the- ... 235601354/

Weirdly, the article doesn't really go into details about the reactions of this screening, aside from some non-specific comments about the musical numbers getting applause, and all we really get is more of Bailey doing promotional stuff.

Is it weird that I reeeeeally want to know what Matt Damon thought about The Little Mermaid?

Interesting. I don't think I had heard of a private screening like that before. Usually, they're just for the cast and crew.

I actually do not mind the new "Kiss the Girl" lyrics. I also do not mind the scale instead of a contract change, but, why not just have mermaids write in another language? It's that simple! And the amnesia thing, well, it's not too bad to me. We shall see if it helps or hinders the film. Maybe it adds some good drama, who knows.

Yeah, the lyric changes to "Kiss the Girl" and the different way to sign the contract are not big changes. The amnesia one, on the other hand, doesn't sound like a very good idea to me, but we'll see. Maybe you're right it might make the film more interesting. And you're right they could have just given merpeople their own language, but maybe then people would wonder why is it that they can speak the same language as humans, but not write it.

Regarding the new songs, I think I prefer the lyrics of "For the First Time" to "Wild Uncharted Waters". Now, that's the song I'm more excited to listen to once again. Also, it's curious Ariel singing "Ah... ah... ah..." is included in both "Wild Uncharted Waters" and the "Part of Your World" reprise. Could they have added it to the latter so Eric remembers that sound later when Vanessa sings it? "Your Voice" from the Broadway musical also featured that melody, but with lyrics instead of "Ah... ah... ah...".

If Part of Your World does end up being the first song, then it really will be a while before we hear any music in this film. That's not exactly great karma for a movie musical.

Yeah, that's a strange choice. I also expected "Fathoms Below" would be a more expanded version, like the one from the musical, especially since Eric also sings in it now, but it's almost as short as the film version of the original and shorter that the soundtrack version.

I'm pretty sure it'll do well. From what I've seen both online and IRL people are looking forward to this film, and I'm pretty sure that even people who plan to hate it will watch it.

Regarding critics, I predict a 6.0-7.3 score and an RT percentage of 60-75%, audience percentage will be 30-40%.

The world premiere will be next Monday and we'll already get the first reactions then. Although, apparently some people have already seen it. I don't know when the review embargo lifts, though. That would be interesting to know.

I prefer the one used on the buses and taxies. It's much more appealing.

Yeah, that one is also great. Personally, I'm not sure which one I prefer.

I like this banner too, especially Ariel's section.

Me too, and I agree Ariel's section is the best one. It looks like those banners that are comprised of several individual posters, like the ones they did for Alice in Wonderland, right? This art has also been spotted on a bus:


Source: https://twitter.com/kelzminaj_/status/1 ... 0496000002

[Disney's Divinity]

I won't be surprised if the complete score is not included. The original film isn't what the people involved with this are interested in, and most of the score getting released would only be a send-up for those who are fans of it for the most part. Less reason to buy it. I didn't buy the TLK soundtrack either, just "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Spirit" since those were the only songs I liked.

Okay, the part about no scroll and the lyric changes to PUS (referring specifically to the "take a gulp and take a breath / and go ahead and sign the scroll") is total bullshit. I don't mind the change to the spell--that's actually an interesting addition. I don't mind the KtG changes either even if it is a little eyeroll-worthy considering, as most people have mentioned by now, Ariel is the one trying to manipulate and coerce Eric in this scene. But the second half of PUS is absolute gold and now they've just f-ed it all up. Oh, well, I guess it's just as well since with a non-singer in the role it probably wouldn't have turned out any better than "Be Prepared" (considering that song isn't nearly as nuanced and specific as PUS is, imo, and still ended up so terrible). I don't agree that it's an attempt to fix the plot hole that Ariel can write since it would've been easy to, say, have Ariel prick her finger and sign the scroll in blood or something like that. Of course, as we know with the way they changed the ending to make Ariel the hero only in the dumbest way they possibly could have--these people aren't good at thinking, that's for sure, so I don't think something simple and imaginative like that would occur to them.

[Sotiris]

Me too, and I agree Ariel's section is the best one. It looks like those banners that are comprised of several individual posters, like the ones they did for Alice in Wonderland, right?

Those are called triptych posters. The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Maleficent 2, Alice 2, Nutcracker, and Oz got one too.

[Disney Duster]

Sotiris, you are absolutely right. This film will do well, but because it's based on the original.

Oh, you know D82, I should have said merpeople speak English but write in another alphabet, not another language.

[Disney's Divinity]

I agree. Whatever success this film does have will be because the original brand is driving it, the average consumer won't know how much they've changed until they're sitting in the theater much like they tried to do with Mulan.

Anyway, I think the worst case scenario would be something like 500 million. I personally don't call that flop numbers, I just remember how many here called Maleficent: Mistress of Evil a "flop" with those same numbers... So, no, an outright flop wouldn't happen in any scenario, I don't think, although, yes, I'm skeptical it'll hit a billion after the way they've sliced and diced it, but of course I could end up being wrong about that. Look on the bright side--even if it only hit 700 million or whatever, I'm sure Disney and that whole weird crowd who see this film as some kind of culture war battle they have to win because Ariel is Black will spin a pack of excuses to justify how that's still a big deal (somethingsomething about how they haven't recovered from the pandemic, etc. etc.) even though other films like Mario and I believe the Minions sequel hit a billion, and a blockbuster property like TLM was absolutely capable of it if they'd done it right. So race-baiting will be Disney's manner of defense and their shield in every possible scenario, that's why they've decided to use the same strategy on everything they make lately, even something like The Aristocats (where there are almost no humans in the movie ).

Anyway, I found that new article confusing at first since the opening weekend projections had already been posted and were different than those? Looks like the Deadline article tacked on Monday to puff the headline a bit, whereas normally they only include Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

[DisneyFan09]

A snippet of Part of Your World:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0lVWnORRxU

[D82]

• Apparently, King Triton's cut song "Impossible Child" is included as a bonus track buying the soundtrack on HSN.com.

Exclusive Bonus Track: "Impossible Child"
King Triton’s frustrations, as a father, of raising a spirited daughter like Ariel. The song is not featured in the film, with the outtake available exclusive to HSN viewers who purchase HSN’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid CD with exclusive bonus track and poster.

Performed by Javier Bardem; Written by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Source: https://www.hsn.com/products/disneys-th ... t/21070634


• We can hear a bit of "Under the Sea" in the background of a video with Jonah Hauer-King Disney posted and then deleted for some reason.


• The latest TV spot has been officially released by Disney now. Here are also two new videos with Halle Bailey:

Halle Bailey Visits Walt Disney World To Experience Disney Thrills
Instagram message from Halle Bailey about Ursula


• Disney has released several stills in hi-res including a couple of new ones:






• The promotional art of Ariel seen on buses and taxies on a billboard:


Source: https://twitter.com/npjni/status/1654613853320404992


• At a screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the trailers of The Little Mermaid and the latest Transformers movie were projected at the same time by mistake and the videos are going viral. It also happened with the trailer of The Marvels.

https://twitter.com/BlakeRobPerry/statu ... 0912293890
https://twitter.com/gerdark616/status/1 ... 7626028034
https://twitter.com/MeBeDaniD/status/16 ... 6543815680

Those are called triptych posters. The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Maleficent 2, Alice 2, Nutcracker, and Oz got one too.

Oh, it's true! I had forgotten they were called that. I associate the word triptych more with leaflets, since the Spanish equivalent of it is one of the ways to refer to them in my language. Though, it has the other meaning here too. I guess it's not a triptych then as it has more than three sections. Could it be a pentaptych? I've looked it up and it seems they exist.

Oh, you know D82, I should have said merpeople speak English but write in another alphabet, not another language.

I understood you anyway, but I think maybe audiences would've found it a bit weird merpeople spoke the same language as humans, but had a different alphabet. Normally, both things go hand in hand. Anyway, personally, the way I would've solved that "plot hole" is by having Ursula add a clause that said that if Ariel cheated, she would immediately lose her chance of becoming human permanently and would belong to her already.

[Disney Duster]

Those trailers playing at the same time is hilarious! I wonder why we only heard The Little Mermaid's sound, in all of them, though?

D82, I'm sorry but I do not like the "no cheating" idea. In the original film, Ariel tries to tell Eric who she is by pantomime when she meets him on the rock, and Ursula never forbade that. It's just cleaner if Ursula is so clever she doesn't need to forbid anything, plus, her saying if Ariel cheats she automatically belongs to her makes the deal seem silly, to me, like "really?"

[Disney's Divinity]

Ursula w/ F&J and Eric are the only ones of the triptych I like. The actor for Eric looks vaguely like him from a long distance if you squint; I feel like they've been using long shots for a lot of this film's promotional materials for the same reason.

I'd have liked the sidekicks poster if Flounder wasn't separated from the other two. I guess with him being so small, he'd be laying flat if he was on the rock. Surely they could've had Scuttle supporting him with her wing or something?

[PatchofBlue]

I got a real kick out of seeing the trailers playing on top of each other.

The LM trailer was playing at my screening of GotG3 last night (regrettably, it played separate from the Transformers trailer), and when it started, I heard a lot of snickering comments about "ha, ha THIS movie" and whatnot, but I couldn't help but notice that when Ariel started singing the reprise, the entire theater went silent. I wonder what that means.