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Disney has released new clips, a TV Spot, and a behind-the-scenes reel from The Little Mermaid featuring famous music from the movie. Disney released a clip of Halle Bailey’s Ariel singing the first chorus of the mermaid’s iconic song while swimming around her collection of human “whosits and whatsits galore.” This “Kiss the Girl” footage aired last night during the MTV Movie & TV Awards. It turns out that the lyrics aren’t the only change Disney is making to the song.
While the original scene featured an array of sea creatures singing with Sebastian, this segment only features the voices of Sebastian (Daviid Diggs), Skuttle (Awkwafina), and Flounder (Jacob Trembley). Furthermore, Disney put out a TV Spot today via Twitter featuring our first listen to Sebastian and Ariel singing “Under the Sea.” All of these clips and the TV Spot from The Little Mermaid can be viewed in the tweets below:
Walking around on those, what do you call em? 😏 pic.twitter.com/iTXPap3ZGB
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 7, 2023
Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? 🧜♀️✨🐚 And by stuff, we mean a *sneak peek* at The @LittleMermaid! #TheLittleMermaid #MTVAwards pic.twitter.com/ECm78GA4K1
— Movie & TV Awards (@MTVAwards) May 8, 2023
On May 26 go under the sea with Ariel, Sebastian, Scuttle and Flounder in Disney's #TheLittleMermaid. 🫧🐚🪸🌊 pic.twitter.com/SwC1wlS2N9
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 8, 2023
‘The Little Mermaid’ BTS Reel Contains Plot Twist About Ursula
Disney also released a BTS (behind-the-scenes) reel for The Little Mermaid. It contained footage of Trembley voicing Flounder and new interviews with Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric) and Javier Bardem (King Triton). The reel also includes some neat and fun footage from the set. However, the reel also reveals a change from the original movie regarding the villain Ursula.
Melissa McCarthy says in the reel, “I get to play Javier Bardem’s sister.” This storyline of Ursula and King Triton as siblings was not in the original movie. Director Rob Marshall is borrowing it from the Broadway musical based on the movie. McCarthy told Entertainment Weekly that her version of Ursula is a sadder and edgier take on the character, and this family dynamic is sure to add to those factors.
🤩THIS CAST🤩 Go behind-the-scenes of #TheLittleMermaid to see how this cast became a family! pic.twitter.com/uUpyGw4RO5
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 8, 2023
‘The Little Mermaid’ Music Clips Disappoint Some
The changes to the music in The Little Mermaid have been controversial, and some feel the new clip of “Kiss the Girl” didn’t help. Meghan O’Keefe of Decider criticized the clip for poor visuals, weak singing, and lack of “spark” between Ariel and Eric. ” I don’t believe these two want to kiss, much less even be friends with one another,” O’Keefe wrote.
Regardless, Disney’s remake of The Little Mermaid is expected to make $110 million on its opening weekend. We will see if that’s true when it releases on May 26.