The Little Mermaid
Composer Alan Menken says the songs for Disney’sThe Little Mermaidremake have all been recorded , including four new ones . A live - action retelling of the studio apartment ’s animated 1989 hit ( itself base on Hans Christian Andersen ’s story),The Little Mermaidwas among the films thathalted product originally this monthin reply to the coronavirus outbreak . Although shot had n’t bulge out just yet , it was schedule to begin in April at Pinewood Studios in London for apotential release in 2021 . For now , as with spirit in Hollywood in general , it ’s not clear when thing will start displace onward again .
In the meanwhile , the fabled Disney songster and music conductor Menken is keeping plenty busy . On top of adapting more of the studio ’s Disney Renaissance films into Broadway leg musicals , Menken has been collaborating withHamiltoncreator Lin - Manuel Miranda on brand - new songs for the springy - actionThe Little Mermaid . In fact , according to his latest update , the music for the movie is already done .
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During a live stream with Rosie O’Donnell , Menken say he and Miranda have"recorded all the songs"forThe Little Mermaidremake , including"four new songs " . He also confirmed he ’s still working on the music for the long - awaitedEnchantedsequel , Disenchanted , and briefly cite Disney ’s animatedHerculesis being adapted into a Broadway phase show . you may watch out the relevant clip from the live stream below ( viaBrian Saeger ) .
This is n’t the first time Menken has worked on one of Disney ’s springy - natural process remake . The eight - time Oscar victor antecedently helped craft a handful of new call for the studio’sBeauty and the Beastretelling in 2017 andco - write the original line " Speechless"with Pasek & Paul for last year’sAladdin . Many would argue these movies have had sundry achiever integrating those additional musical numbers into their narratives . That snuff it double for the remakes and their attempts to " ready " Menken ’s Song from the original animated flick by removing any racist or otherwise insensitive lyric . Still , those changes are typically for the good and one imagines the live - actionThe Little Mermaidwill make similar tweak ( like cuttingthe infamous"blackfish"linefrom " Under the Sea " ) .
The Little Mermaidhas already made waves ( no paronomasia intended ) bycasting Halle Bailey as Ariel , lead in the sadly typical racist recoil . Fortunately , there ’s also been a whole lot of bread and butter for the conclusion , let in from Diana Huey(the first non - white actress to play Ariel in the Broadway interpretation of the animated film ) . For those who ’ve grown tired of Disney ’s live - activeness remake formula , it ’s sure every bit supporting to hearThe Little Mermaidremake is changing thing up more , between Bailey play Ariel , new song co - written by Miranda , and a promising supporting cast featuring Melissa McCarthy , Javier Bardem , Awkwafina , and Daveed Diggs . With a small luck , that will be enough to raise the retelling into a memorable experience in its own right hand .
NEXT : All the Live - Action Disney Remakes in Development
origin : Brian Saeger / Twitter
