The Little Mermaid (Live-Action)

[blackcauldron85]

I know that this movie is on a bigger scale, but did people freak out when characters in Once Upon a Time or Decendants looked different from the original Disney sources? I'm not into the remakes beyond seeing what everyone/everything looks like, but it's a damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't situation: If everything is exactly the same as the original movie, some people complain; if there are differences, some people will complain. There's just no way Disney can please everyone. I watched a short clip of Halle singing that someone posted here, and damn she has a good voice. I don't care who they cast in the remakes, but she's talented and I have no issues with changing races.

[Farerb]

I know that this movie is on a bigger scale, but did people freak out when characters in Once Upon a Time or Decendants looked different from the original Disney sources? I'm not into the remakes beyond seeing what everyone/everything looks like, but it's a damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't situation: If everything is exactly the same as the original movie, some people complain; if there are differences, some people will complain. There's just no way Disney can please everyone. I watched a short clip of Halle singing that someone posted here, and damn she has a good voice. I don't care who they cast in the remakes, but she's talented and I have no issues with changing races.

I think Disney don't care for these complaints as long as the remakes make money, and so far they have.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think Disney don't care for these complaints as long as the remakes make money, and so far they have.

I agree. And TLM won't be the first they've altered or the last. Alice and Maleficent are others; I'm sure it will still be better than the two of them. I would've rather they went the same path of hewing closely to the original like they did for B&TB, Aladdin, and TLK though. The only time they've seriously changed the story from the animated film and still put out something that was good overall, imo, was TJB. The only things I liked about Alice and Maleficent were HBC's and Angelina Jolie's performances.

JoAnna Garcia was actually perfect as Ariel on OUAT although their Eric was on the wimpy side.

[unprincess]

Maybe the movie really isn't gonna be aimed at the nostalgia crowd, but at zoomers and minorities.

kinda like how Mulan isn't really aimed at an American audience but at a Chinese audience

you know, she's not my Ariel, but she's their Ariel and ...that's okay?


Im curious now what they are gonna do about the merch for this film.

[thedisneyspirit]

In the website I linked in the other post, a lot of Chinese twitter users haven't liked the change. I wonder then how will the box office do in China...

[JeanGreyForever]

Maybe the movie really isn't gonna be aimed at the nostalgia crowd, but at zoomers and minorities.

kinda like how Mulan isn't really aimed at an American audience but at a Chinese audience

you know, she's not my Ariel, but she's their Ariel and ...that's okay?


Im curious now what they are gonna do about the merch for this film.

That makes me wonder about Mulan's merchandise as well since they're marketing it to the most populated country in the world. If it does well and becomes the definitive Mulan story there (or at least the definitive Disney Mulan), will they start only marketing the live-action film?

For Ariel, I imagine it'll be like how when Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin came out. There was merchandise of the animated versions, plus the live-action ones. After a few months, the live-action merchandise completely disappears and that's that.

In the website I linked in the other post, a lot of Chinese twitter users haven't liked the change. I wonder then how will the box office do in China...

Aren't the Chinese not usually accepting of films with black leads? Or at least that was the assumption until I think Black Panther did amazingly well there. But that was an original story for them and culturally based off of Africa unlike this film.

I don't think it will do well in India or the Middle East because Ariel is a beloved character there and much of that is because of her pale skin and red hair. These regions are especially particular about skin color because with the exception of Jasmine (who gets leeway since she is based off these cultures) the most beloved princesses there are all the European ones. Pocahontas and Mulan get minor amounts of love but Tiana is generally despised because of her skin color and you won't find anything of her there to the point that most people wouldn't even recognize her.

I'm curious about how Japan will take this as well, especially if it's true that China isn't pleased with this change. Japan can be pretty colorist as well like the aforementioned countries and Ariel is practically an icon there. I don't think they'll be pleased with this change either considering how beloved she is, in part because of her general appearance.

Disney choosing a black lead for Ariel will win brownie points in the U.S. (not sure about Europe and Latin America) but I don't think Asia will be very accepting tbh. I'm not sure how well they can count on this film doing internationally, similar to how TPATF was more geared towards American viewers.

[thedisneyspirit]

Latin America neither, while some are in favor, others have disagreed with this. A lot of youtube videos talking about not liking the change. Popular horror youtube Dross hasn't liked it either.

[JeanGreyForever]

Thanks for confirming. Latin America is another big, if untapped, market for the U.S. so that'll be a real loss to Disney as well if audiences aren't flocking to this film there either.

[DisneyFan97]

I live in Sweden and no one here seems to have a problem with a black Ariel. Also since danmark is a neighboring country many people are more familiar the original tale at leat older folks.

I wishh i could find a good unabrigted translation of Anderson's lLitte Mermniad in swedish would be intersing to read since i love the Disney movie.

By the way sweden is an awesome country and Disney animated movies are quite popular here. The Jungle Book being is really beloved in Sweden. And it's dubb is considerd one of the finest dubbs of any Disney movie in the country.

Also the swedish dubb of Liion King is highly regard owing largley to Sweidsh Scar and Timom and Pumbaa beeing amazingly voiced.

Sorry if i got off on a tangent

[JeanGreyForever]

I know that this movie is on a bigger scale, but did people freak out when characters in Once Upon a Time or Decendants looked different from the original Disney sources? I'm not into the remakes beyond seeing what everyone/everything looks like, but it's a damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't situation: If everything is exactly the same as the original movie, some people complain; if there are differences, some people will complain. There's just no way Disney can please everyone. I watched a short clip of Halle singing that someone posted here, and damn she has a good voice. I don't care who they cast in the remakes, but she's talented and I have no issues with changing races.

There was a huge freakout when a black actress portrayed Rapunzel during S3 of Once Upon a Time. She only appeared for one episode but people were super upset so it was no surprise that when they reintroduced Rapunzel for the final season, she was white and blonde. I remember people would talk about the portrayals of the princesses in OUAT and say they liked all of them except for Rapunzel, and when the new Rapunzel came out, people would love to point out how superior she was to the previous one.

I live in Sweden and no one here seems to have a problem with a black Ariel. Also since danmark is a neighboring country many people are more familiar the original tale at leat older folks.

I wishh i could find a good unabrigted translation of Anderson's lLitte Mermniad in swedish would be intersing to read since i love the Disney movie.

By the way sweden is an awesome country and Disney animated movies are quite popular here. The Jungle Book being is really beloved in Sweden. And it's dubb is considerd one of the finest dubbs of any Disney movie in the country.

Also the swedish dubb of Liion King is highly regard owing largley to Sweidsh Scar and Timom and Pumbaa beeing amazingly voiced.

Sorry if i got off on a tangent

I'm surprised you can't find a good unabridged translation of Andersen's works in Sweden. I would assume that because of the close vicinity to Denmark, it would be super easy to find a faithful copy. There are plenty of English translations here in the U.S. but I guess you would want one in your own language.

This is probably off-topic here, but I'm curious what Disney films are most popular in your country versus which ones are less liked. The Jungle Book seems to be really popular in Europe since it's the highest grossing film ever in Germany to this day.

[unprincess]

For Ariel, I imagine it'll be like how when Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin came out. There was merchandise of the animated versions, plus the live-action ones. After a few months, the live-action merchandise completely disappears and that's that.

yeah but I have a feeling its gonna be harder for them to just get rid of the LA Ariel merch, I could see alot of people complaining about it not being available or hard to find after a while.
Is like how they continue to produce Moana merch and toys when most of her stuff rarely sells. I wonder if Disney is keeping it around for PC points and will stop making it once the next minority princess/heroine comes along. Maybe black Ariel will replace her eventually?

[DisneyFan97]

I know that this movie is on a bigger scale, but did people freak out when characters in Once Upon a Time or Decendants looked different from the original Disney sources? I'm not into the remakes beyond seeing what everyone/everything looks like, but it's a damned-if-they-do, damned-if-they-don't situation: If everything is exactly the same as the original movie, some people complain; if there are differences, some people will complain. There's just no way Disney can please everyone. I watched a short clip of Halle singing that someone posted here, and damn she has a good voice. I don't care who they cast in the remakes, but she's talented and I have no issues with changing races.

There was a huge freakout when a black actress portrayed Rapunzel during S3 of Once Upon a Time. She only appeared for one episode but people were super upset so it was no surprise that when they reintroduced Rapunzel for the final season, she was white and blonde. I remember people would talk about the portrayals of the princesses in OUAT and say they liked all of them except for Rapunzel, and when the new Rapunzel came out, people would love to point out how superior she was to the previous one.

I live in Sweden and no one here seems to have a problem with a black Ariel. Also since danmark is a neighboring country many people are more familiar the original tale at leat older folks.

I wishh i could find a good unabrigted translation of Anderson's lLitte Mermniad in swedish would be intersing to read since i love the Disney movie.

By the way sweden is an awesome country and Disney animated movies are quite popular here. The Jungle Book being is really beloved in Sweden. And it's dubb is considerd one of the finest dubbs of any Disney movie in the country.

Also the swedish dubb of Liion King is highly regard owing largley to Sweidsh Scar and Timom and Pumbaa beeing amazingly voiced.

Sorry if i got off on a tangent

I'm surprised you can't find a good unabridged translation of Andersen's works in Sweden. I would assume that because of the close vicinity to Denmark, it would be super easy to find a faithful copy. There are plenty of English translations here in the U.S. but I guess you would want one in your own language.

This is probably off-topic here, but I'm curious what Disney films are most popular in your country versus which ones are less liked. The Jungle Book seems to be really popular in Europe since it's the highest grossing film ever in Germany to this day.

Bella Notre is a huge part of Swedish Pop Culture thank to that secenbeing shown evey christmas on tv.

I believe the animated Jungle Book is the most successful movie in Sweden ever.

Swedish Elsa voice have often been praised
Frozen just as bigger here as in america.

My mom and dad saw Lion King in theaters when they were dating so that has Significance place in our family.

Mos tpeopl agre that Mary Poppins dubbed in swedish is a ghastly with strange word choices and unnecessarily name cchanges to many characters for now reason. Bert dosn't have cockney but a Stockholm dialact. Mary has a nottably sarper voice in Swedsih than Julie hade.

Mulan is note most i think in Sweden for staing a huge celebrity as the swedish voice of the Grandmother.

The Swedsih voice of Aladdin done by a popular singer and the fact Swedish Genie amazing has made Aladdin Popular. tHe black Cuarlden vertuially unkown andi belive most people in swden view wonne the Pooh as a pre school thing.

The Swedsih voice of Mushu commit crimes sevarl years later and hade to escape Sweden.
Swedsih Sebestian is a beloved for being voiced beloved celebrity.

None of the actors from orginal LItte mermaid retrun for the tv show in swedsih and onlyone for the squeal and none for ariel's beging.

Thanks to Disney many i Swaden think of Hounchback as a kid story like Peter Pan or Alice in Wunderland for some reason.

Hardly any one in Sweden knows Pochontas was a real person.

Snow White is really beloved and Robin Hood a pop culture staple.

Beauty and the beast has a big singer celebrity as the Beaat despite him oly singing part of one song.

The Fox and Hound has a radically differentt title in swedish despite sure book i belive having a more faithful title in Swedish.

Alantis hade really all star cast in swedish. But few poeple remmber the movie dispete that

Dinosaur that CGI flick from the early 200os hade a crazyly star stuuded cast in Sweden for some reason.A nd also tow sperate sets of happy meal toys at least.

The Empores new grove cast a really big celebrity as Yzma and she was actually amazing in the part. She is a bi greason why always loved Yzma. she din't retrun for Kronks new grove or the tv show, But she was replaced with almost equal big star and actress who hade work with Ingmarr Berman.

Lumière was cast with a really big swedish song dance man and actor. Who is belovedall across Sweden. I belive Beauty and the beast isreally popualer altopugh many think Disney ivented the story,


Cinderella is part of Swedish pop culture do to a bits of it being shown every year on tv on christmas.

The Rescuers was i belive the frist movie my mom saw in thaters,
and people of her age tend to remmber it fundly.

Peter Pan and Alice in Wunderlan arn't that popular

Also the alice in wunderland book has hade a crazy number of popular different translations ín sweden many useing comletply r different names for the figures

My favoriteswedish disney dubbs are Litte Mermaid, Emperor's New Groove , Buaty and The Beast, the Aristocats, Aladdin , The Jungle Book, alanties the lost empror, and the great mouse dective.

Parts of Hunchback are really good and no role badly done,

Hope that clears things up !

[Disney Duster]

Jodi Benson in her response sounds like she is nervous. It felt like she secretly didn't like the casting. And it's not the outside package that matters, Jodi? Is that why you got a nose job? Don't get me wrong guys, I love Jodi, but she is a human being...who is also heterosexist.

Anyway, good job JeanGreyForever at exposing you know who...

[JeanGreyForever]

Jodi Benson in her response sounds like she is nervous. It felt like she secretly didn't like the casting. And it's not the outside package that matters, Jodi? Is that why you got a nose job? Don't get me wrong guys, I love Jodi, but she is a human being...who is also heterosexist.

Anyway, good job JeanGreyForever at exposing you know who...

I have to agree here. As much as we all love Jodi, we also all know how traditional she is so I can imagine this casting is a bit of a shock to her and probably not what she was expecting. I'm curious though who she would have wanted for the role, if anyone, since I know Paige O'Hara was never very glad to pass on the baton to another Belle (and nor do I blame her, especially after we got Hermione 2.0).

Haha, thanks. I just couldn't stand all the racist tripe being posted and the even more outlandish attempts to cover those views up.

[JeanGreyForever]

Bella Notre is a huge part of Swedish Pop Culture thank to that secenbeing shown evey christmas on tv.

I believe the animated Jungle Book is the most successful movie in Sweden ever.

Swedish Elsa voice have often been praised
Frozen just as bigger here as in america.

My mom and dad saw Lion King in theaters when they were dating so that has Significance place in our family.

Mos tpeopl agre that Mary Poppins dubbed in swedish is a ghastly with strange word choices and unnecessarily name cchanges to many characters for now reason. Bert dosn't have cockney but a Stockholm dialact. Mary has a nottably sarper voice in Swedsih than Julie hade.

Mulan is note most i think in Sweden for staing a huge celebrity as the swedish voice of the Grandmother.

The Swedsih voice of Aladdin done by a popular singer and the fact Swedish Genie amazing has made Aladdin Popular. tHe black Cuarlden vertuially unkown andi belive most people in swden view wonne the Pooh as a pre school thing.

The Swedsih voice of Mushu commit crimes sevarl years later and hade to escape Sweden.
Swedsih Sebestian is a beloved for being voiced beloved celebrity.

None of the actors from orginal LItte mermaid retrun for the tv show in swedsih and onlyone for the squeal and none for ariel's beging.

Thanks to Disney many i Swaden think of Hounchback as a kid story like Peter Pan or Alice in Wunderland for some reason.

Hardly any one in Sweden knows Pochontas was a real person.

Snow White is really beloved and Robin Hood a pop culture staple.

Beauty and the beast has a big singer celebrity as the Beaat despite him oly singing part of one song.

The Fox and Hound has a radically differentt title in swedish despite sure book i belive having a more faithful title in Swedish.

Alantis hade really all star cast in swedish. But few poeple remmber the movie dispete that

Dinosaur that CGI flick from the early 200os hade a crazyly star stuuded cast in Sweden for some reason.A nd also tow sperate sets of happy meal toys at least.

The Empores new grove cast a really big celebrity as Yzma and she was actually amazing in the part. She is a bi greason why always loved Yzma. she din't retrun for Kronks new grove or the tv show, But she was replaced with almost equal big star and actress who hade work with Ingmarr Berman.

Lumière was cast with a really big swedish song dance man and actor. Who is belovedall across Sweden. I belive Beauty and the beast isreally popualer altopugh many think Disney ivented the story,


Cinderella is part of Swedish pop culture do to a bits of it being shown every year on tv on christmas.

The Rescuers was i belive the frist movie my mom saw in thaters,
and people of her age tend to remmber it fundly.

Peter Pan and Alice in Wunderlan arn't that popular

Also the alice in wunderland book has hade a crazy number of popular different translations ín sweden many useing comletply r different names for the figures

My favoriteswedish disney dubbs are Litte Mermaid, Emperor's New Groove , Buaty and The Beast, the Aristocats, Aladdin , The Jungle Book, alanties the lost empror, and the great mouse dective.

Parts of Hunchback are really good and no role badly done,

Hope that clears things up !

Wow, thanks for the very thorough background information on Sweden's Disney preferences.

I didn't realize The Jungle Book was the most successful film ever in Sweden as well as in Germany. Europe really seems to like this film! Snow White being hugely popular and beloved does not surprise me in the slightest though, but I am surprised that Robin Hood is really so popular. I thought in Europe it would be less liked because of how Americanized it is but maybe that would only bother the English. It's a bit surprising that Alice in Wonderland is such a popular book but the Disney movie is not. Do you know why that is the case? Surprised to hear that Peter Pan is unpopular as well although I don't blame the Swedish for that because it's quite a weak film overall once you remove the nostalgia. I guess The Black Cauldron is obscure in any country just as Frozen is popular in every country. I shouldn't be surprised that Winnie the Pooh is considered a pre-school property outside of the U.S. as well.

Since Mary Poppins has such terrible dubbing, do you think that has impacted if people like it or not in Sweden or is it still regarded as a classic? That's interesting that Dinosaur and Atlantis had such big casts but still aren't very remembered. We had Dinosaur McDonalds toys as well. You mentioned that Yzma was a really big celebrity so does that mean that The Emperor's New Groove is well-liked in Sweden or is it also forgotten?

I love The Rescuers so I'm glad that at least people of your mom's generation adore the movie.

Oh wow, didn't know that the Swedish voice of Mushu was so notorious. I'm glad the Swedish voices of Sebastian, Lumiere, and Genie are super popular though. Too bad TLM actors didn't return for the TV show although I don't blame them for skipping the prequel film.

Hunchback has tricked a lot of people even in the U.S. for being known as a kid's property because of the Disney movie. I know Pocahontas was really popular in Europe but that's interesting that most people there don't know it was based off a real person. I guess probably England is the only European country that may have background knowledge of her.

I love how Cinderella and Bella Notte from Lady and the Tramp are part of your annual Christmastime shows. I never thought of Cinderella as particularly related to the holidays but I guess dreams coming true does lend well to the Christmas spirit. I'm such Disney Duster would love to hear about that!

[Disney Duster]

Yes, I wonder who Jodi would want for the role. I thought she was excited for the remake from an interview months back. I didn't remember Paige being reluctant to a new Belle.

It is so cool to hear how Europe feels about Disney movies. It's so surprising The Jungle Book is the biggest movie ever in Sweden and Germany, wow! And yes, I am glad to hear how Cinderella is treated in Sweden. The Christmas connection reminds me of the Disney Christmas VHS with many Disney shorts or parts of Disney movies tied together with a Christmas or winter theme. It was called A Disney Christmas Gift. Cinderella was oddly added in, and it bewildered me, and they added the Fairy Godmother saying "Merry Christmas, Cinderella!", right as she waved goodbye. Being a child I wondered if that was really her because it sounded out of place, and I still thought it was odd that was with the other Disney scenes for Christmas. But I loved it. I loved that whole VHS.

[DisneyFan97]

Yes, I wonder who Jodi would want for the role. I thought she was excited for the remake from an interview months back. I didn't remember Paige being reluctant to a new Belle.

It is so cool to hear how Europe feels about Disney movies. It's so surprising The Jungle Book is the biggest movie ever in Sweden and Germany, wow! And yes, I am glad to hear how Cinderella is treated in Sweden. The Christmas connection reminds me of the Disney Christmas VHS with many Disney shorts or parts of Disney movies tied together with a Christmas or winter theme. It was called A Disney Christmas Gift. Cinderella was oddly added in, and it bewildered me, and they added the Fairy Godmother saying "Merry Christmas, Cinderella!", right as she waved goodbye. Being a child I wondered if that was really her because it sounded out of place, and I still thought it was odd that was with the other Disney scenes for Christmas. But I loved it. I loved that whole VHS.

Ariel hade great Swedish voice. But she was ONLYin the orginal nothing else and no other animation either. She also voiced Areiel in Danmark and Norway.

But only the singing parts in danish not the speaking voice.

She has a beautiful voice. Swedish Belle is also great !


Also the Swedish live action Belle unlike Emma Watson had singing background.

I saw as Christine in Phantom Of the Opera some years ago before she got the part of Belle.

[Sotiris]

Considering Jasmine was covered up in the remake, do you think they'll do the same to Ariel? If they do, I just hope it's not some sort of nude skinsuit. That would look really bad.

[ChrisLyne]

Without wanting to sound creepy, I hope not. I guess they could do some sort of clothing (like Aquaman/Mera) or scale effect for the bodies up to the chest but it runs the risk of looking very strange. If they do want to cover her up more it will certainly be an interesting challenge for the design and costuming teams.

[DisneyFan97]

If Chef Louis is in the movie he should definitely be played Gordon Ramsay.

No i don't care he isn't a singer !

It would just be hilarious casting.

But not hilarious in bad way !

But i think the could cut Louis and give Ursula more screen time.