The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[Disney's Divinity]

But in all honesty, I get so tired of every female protagonist having no flaws and being super strong. It’s becoming almost an inverted manic pixie dream girl/Mary Sue kind of thing. Characters need flaws. Characters need to mess up and be relatable. And Ariel is a shining example of that.

I don’t think being a character that has self-worth and solves their own problems means they are flawless. That’s a false dichotomy people create every time they’re pissed that a female character isn’t weak and passive anymore, as if the only options on the table are pathetic doormat or Mary Sue saint. The latter doesn’t accurately describe any of Disney’s recent female characters, imo, either from their animated films or their live-action re-makes.

Besides, Ariel would still be a headstrong teenager for wanting to get away from her overbearing father, period. Just because she would want to go to the human world out of her own self-interest equal to her attraction to Eric doesn’t mean she’s suddenly some kind of responsible woman when she’s making a deal with the devil. Or do you think that just because Ursula might point out that Ariel can get her chance to explore the human world, too, on top of everything else, that would suddenly make Ariel “smart” and “flawless” for signing? Because that’s ludicrous. Ariel would still be selfish and naïve for signing the deal regardless.

[nomad2010]

But in all honesty, I get so tired of every female protagonist having no flaws and being super strong. It’s becoming almost an inverted manic pixie dream girl/Mary Sue kind of thing. Characters need flaws. Characters need to mess up and be relatable. And Ariel is a shining example of that.

I don’t think being a character that has self-worth and solves their own problems means they are flawless. That’s a false dichotomy people create every time they’re pissed that a female character isn’t weak and passive anymore, as if the only options on the table are pathetic doormat or Mary Sue saint. The latter doesn’t accurately describe any of Disney’s recent female characters, imo, either from their animated films or their live-action re-makes.

Besides, Ariel would still be a headstrong teenager for wanting to get away from her overbearing father, period. Just because she would want to go to the human world out of her own self-interest in part with her attraction to Eric doesn’t mean she’s suddenly some kind of responsible woman when she’s making a deal with the devil.

Oh no, I don’t think any character ever needs to be weak or passive. But I do believe every character should have some flaws. I just think Disney tends to view characters as only being able to be one or the other most of the time... especially in how the studio describes its older princesses. I think Jasmine in the Aladdin remake came closest to reaching being well rounded, but she still lacked the edge the original had.

And sure it would be fine if she wanted to explore the human world, but that totally wouldn’t make sense as to why Ursula takes her voice. Ursula takes it partially because she knows it will hinder her from getting what she wants in the first place... Eric. Or so she thinks.

[Disney's Divinity]

Oh no, I don’t think any character ever needs to be weak or passive. But I do believe every character should have some flaws. I just think Disney tends to view characters as only being able to be one or the other most of the time... especially in how the studio describes its older princesses. I think Jasmine in the Aladdin remake came closest to reaching being well rounded, but she still lacked the edge the original had.

I know I edited my post, so you probably didn’t see that part, but I don’t think Ariel would be any less stupid or naïve or selfish for signing the deal just because Ursula mentions her individual interest in learning about the human world. That wouldn’t be any different than Aladdin and Beast, who are both flawed characters without having their flaws centering entirely on their love interest the way Ariel’s does.

Besides, Ariel would still be a headstrong teenager for wanting to get away from her overbearing father, period. Just because she would want to go to the human world out of her own self-interest in part with her attraction to Eric doesn’t mean she’s suddenly some kind of responsible woman when she’s making a deal with the devil.

That’s not what I said though… What I’m saying is it doesn’t have to be one or the other, it can be both. Ursula can say explicitly that if Ariel signs, she can get her man and her chance to explore the human world all in one package. Whereas in the original film, Ariel’s interest in the human world apart from Eric is not mentioned at all in “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

[Sotiris]

As for any alterations, the only things the film would really need is for 1.) The deal she makes with Ursula to be made more explicitly about her desire to explore / learn about the human world and not only to be with Eric. It's something you can assume, but they don't mention her interest in the human world apart from Eric at all throughout the speaking portions of "Poor Unfortunate Souls." 2.) Have her play a larger role in Ursula's defeat instead of just holding onto a rock or being terror-struck the whole time. Maybe she helps Eric to climb aboard the ship he kills Ursula with since she can, you know, swim better than a human in turbulent waters.

Those are good suggestions but I somehow doubt Disney will only go for minor alterations like that. Ariel has been criticized so much as character over the decades that Disney would feel pressure to appease the critics and appear progressive with much more radical changes.

But in all honesty, I get so tired of every female protagonist having no flaws and being super strong. It’s becoming almost an inverted manic pixie dream girl/Mary Sue kind of thing. Characters need flaws. Characters need to mess up and be relatable. And Ariel is a shining example of that.

Exactly. Male characters can still have flaws and be seen as heroes. But female ones? No, that would be problematic and the discourse would start about how they're bad role models and how they're bainwashing little girls. Not to mention that female characters aren't allowed to just be artistic or have other interests anymore; they have to be into STEM as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they made Ariel an inventor whose fascination of the human world stemmed from her love of engineering.

[Disney's Divinity]

Ariel is still going to sign Ursula’s deal whatever the changes, so again I have to ask how any of you can argue with a straight face that she’s going to be without flaws considering that?

[Sotiris]

Ariel is still going to sign Ursula’s deal whatever the changes, so again I have to ask how any of you can argue with a straight face that she’s going to be without flaws considering that?

I didn't say she's going to be without flaws but potentially significant changes to the plot or Ariel's personality is not good news to me.

[Disney's Divinity]

The more I think about it, the more I wish they'd just cast Latifah as Ursula in the live-action film. She's a really good actress, both in drama and comedy--pretty much the same as McCarthy, with the bonus she could sing. I almost wonder if that's why they haven't officially announced Melissa McCarthy yet, because they want to see how well audiences might respond to Latifah in the live show? If she really makes an impression, they might cast her.

McCarthy's a great actress, too (I just saw Can You Ever Forgive Me? last night and she was really good--again), but I guess I'm hoping for Latifah the more I think about "Poor Unfortunate Souls" being butchered...

[nomad2010]

The more I think about it, the more I wish they'd just cast Latifah as Ursula in the live-action film. She's a really good actress, both in drama and comedy--pretty much the same as McCarthy, with the bonus she could sing. I almost wonder if that's why they haven't officially announced Melissa McCarthy yet, because they want to see how well audiences might respond to Latifah in the live show? If she really makes an impression, they might cast her.

McCarthy's a great actress, too (I just saw Can You Ever Forgive Me? last night and she was really good--again), but I guess I'm hoping for Latifah the more I think about "Poor Unfortunate Souls" being butchered...

Have you seen the video of McCarthy performing I Can Do Anything with Barbara Streisand? She can definitely sing well, and has the gusto to pull off Poor Unfortunate Souls. I think as long as they work with her to get deep down in her range and make it creepy, it’ll be fantastic.

[Disney Duster]

As for any alterations, the only things the film would really need is for 1.) The deal she makes with Ursula to be made more explicitly about her desire to explore / learn about the human world and not only to be with Eric. It's something you can assume, but they don't mention her interest in the human world apart from Eric at all throughout the speaking portions of "Poor Unfortunate Souls." 2.) Have her play a larger role in Ursula's defeat instead of just holding onto a rock or being terror-struck the whole time. Maybe she helps Eric to climb aboard the ship he kills Ursula with since she can, you know, swim better than a human in turbulent waters.

Those are good suggestions but I somehow doubt Disney will only go for minor alterations like that. Ariel has been criticized so much as character over the decades that Disney would feel pressure to appease the critics and appear progressive with much more radical changes.

But Ariel "explicitly" wanting the human world and not just Eric is messy writing, when her top desire is to be with Eric. And Ariel in peril was the distraction that allowed Eric to get in the ship and then defeat Ursula in the first place so Disney's Divinity's ideas don't work.

[Disney's Divinity]

Have you seen the video of McCarthy performing I Can Do Anything with Barbara Streisand? She can definitely sing well, and has the gusto to pull off Poor Unfortunate Souls. I think as long as they work with her to get deep down in her range and make it creepy, it’ll be fantastic.

No, I haven't seen that. I'll have to check it out next time I have the chance / time to load a video of it. Either way, it is interesting that she hasn't been officially confirmed when Bailey and Awkwafina were cast ages ago.

I didn't say she's going to be without flaws but potentially significant changes to the plot or Ariel's personality is not good news to me.

Changes are inevitable and it doesn't necessarily mean they will be significant. I don't consider the "oh, so horrible" changes to Aladdin and B&tB to have been significant, so I doubt they will be for TLM. They're not going to be dismantling everything that makes TLM what it is to kiss up to a dictatorship like with the Mulan re-make.

Moreover, unlike others here, I'm absolutely fine with making their older female characters less regressive to a new audience. They should.

[JeanGreyForever]

After how Belle was treated, I don't have high hopes for Ariel here. Jasmine turned out all right but Disney seems really intent on changing Ariel to make her more amiable to today's social and political climate. I'm expecting lots and lots of articles soon on how this new Ariel is so much more feminist and revolutionary compared to the "regressive damsel" from 1989.

[Disney Duster]

I'm expecting lots and lots of articles soon on how this new Ariel is so much more feminist and revolutionary compared to the "regressive damsel" from 1989.

[Sotiris]

Disney’s Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’ Confirmed To Shoot At Pinewood Studios UK
https://hnentertainment.co/disneys-live ... tudios-uk/

[DisneyFan97]

Here a few thingswant in this movie.

1: More screen time for Ursula as herself and not Vanessa,. Maybe even if im lucky a second Ursula song.

2: Outting back in the backstory Utsuka being King Triyon's sister,. It's a reallynet idea that i lkie !

3: Give Flotsam and Jetsama a solo number if Scuttle get get one they might as well give the electric eels a song too. The more songs the better in my oppinon ! Also i kie musicals were as many of the charather in the story get the cance too sing at least once. Which why hate musicalkls where only the mian charatcher sings by the way !

4 this an "If" thinh. I heaerd someone on twitter suggest yo me Hugh Jackman for King Triton today if they cast Jackman in the role Triton NEEDS a solo number too ! It would be a wast too cast Hugh Jackman in mUsical and than don't haee him sing !

5: Don't cut Grimsy. Cut the Chef if want. But keep Grimsby and don't make him young or american. I want him too sill be an old britsh person. I say person beasue i wouldn't mind at all if they replaced Grismby witha differently named female character that served the same function.Maybe that's how they can get Angela Lansbury in this movie ? By replacing Grimsby with an old british fem,ale Valet that serves the same purpose in the story !

Maybe i should wrote this movie instead !

[DisneyFan97]

My biggest fear with movie that it willl copy one of Guy Richies Aladdins biggest sins !

That was muting the villain.

In the new Aladdin Jafar was reubbed of all
theatricality and enjoyment and made dull and really lifeleess. I hated that so much! I would be made if they also took away all the fun parts of Ursula and made her complety serious.

This makes think of something from my favorit book Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett. One of the there proganists Granny Weatherwax gets really angry at her sister the book's vaillian. Not just beacuse she beacme the qoute"evil one" which forced her to be the " good one" But beacuse her Sister never enjoyed evil she didn't Chewing the Scenery never took pleasurr in her evil. Granny has this qoute in the book about her sister's evil ", she never took the opportunity to enjoy it". The line has reccured to me now. it's actually pretty great pice of writing like much of Sir Terry Pratchett's work was.

I prefer my Disney villains to be hammy to the max !

Say what you will about Burton's Alice in Wonderland.But Helena Bonham Carter OWNED her role as the Red Queen !! She know eaxtally what herolerwrquired and dilverd one of my all time favorite movie villains performances as a result !

Bonham Carter stole every singel scen she appeard in in that movie. She 100% commit to the bizzare complety nuts role she played.

Same goes for Glen Close as Cruella De Ville. Close too knowexatly what the role required and how to play it and did everthing she could too make Cruella meroable character that stood out !

If ii wasn't from what hade heard and the few clips i hade seenof Glen Cloose in that movie i would never have bother watching the live action 101 Dalmatians at all !

EvenAngelina Jolie got too be over the top at a few points during Maleficent !

[DisneyFan97]

So I have absolutely nothing against Ariel being black for i couldn’t care less Which skin color Ariel has !

However, some time ago I watched a video on youtube where actress Whoopi Goldberg was on some talk show Talking about Ariel Being black. Although I don’t remember the specifics I clearly remember what u felt about the whole interview. It painfully bad. Not only is it apparent Whoopi Goldberg know very little about the original Animated movie nor the dannish fairy tale. Goldberg also seemed too completely misunderstand why some people didn’t want a black Ariel.The discussion was really bad because Whoopi and the host seem to have barely any idea about the subject they were dussinsing yet they still loudt declared their strong View on it. It was such a bad interview overall and I usually like Whoopi Goldberg She was great in Ghost. She did the best She could with material She was given in Sister Act and I watched her live in New York Being interviewed on podcast and She seemed really nice in person too. But that interview was trash !

[Disney's Divinity]

Have you seen the video of McCarthy performing I Can Do Anything with Barbara Streisand? She can definitely sing well, and has the gusto to pull off Poor Unfortunate Souls. I think as long as they work with her to get deep down in her range and make it creepy, it’ll be fantastic.

Eh... Having now seen it, I have to disagree with you. She sounds the same with Barbra as any other actor who has to be autotuned... I like McCarthy, but still can't help hoping they might be inspired to cast Queen Latifah if there's a strong, positive audience response to the live show tonight.

[Sotiris]

Hearing a group of actors will test for the Prince Eric role on Nov. 9 in London. No names yet but seems like we'll have idea who lands that role fairly soon.

Source: https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/11 ... 7299854336

[UmbrellaFish]

Hearing a group of actors will test for the Prince Eric role on Nov. 9 in London. No names yet but seems like we'll have idea who lands that role fairly soon.

Source: https://twitter.com/krolljvar/status/11 ... 7299854336

*impatiently taps fingers on desk*

People choose lifetime partners with less hassle. In fairness, I think they must have thought Harry Styles was a done deal and then when he backed out, they were left in the lurch. It’s the only thing that makes sense of this seemingly drawn out Eric search.

[JeanGreyForever]

What I find odd about the Eric casting (which seems to be giving the search for Scarlett O'Hara a run for its money at this point) is how pretty much all the actors being considered so far have been white with a rare exception or two. And I don't think a single black or Asian actor has been considered, but correct me if I'm wrong. The only POC actor I can remember is Christian Navarro and didn't he speak out and claim that Disney purposefully overlooked him because they wanted a white actor?