When I was a little girl, my sister and I were obsessed with mermaids. The colorful tails, the ability to breathe underwater, the chance to swim with fish and dolphins and whales. Needless to say, we were equally as obsessed with The Little Mermaid. It was one of the first movies where I saw a girl really and truly go after what she wanted — and learn from her mistakes along the way.
When Disney first announced that they were remaking the iconic cartoon into a live-action story (the same way they did with Cinderella in 2015 and Beauty and the Beast in 2017), I was over the moon and something about the new images and clips are making me incredibly emotional. I'm just so excited to see this story come to life!
Disney released the first full trailer for the film during the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, and the film was definitely just as good (if not better) than the original. Read our The Little Mermaid movie reviewto find out why! Here's everything you need to know about the movie.
Halle Bailey Performs “Part of Your World” at Disneyland

Image via Walt Disney Studios
Halle Bailey sings "Part of Your World" at Disneyland
On the May 14 episode of American Idol, Halle Bailey just performed "Part of Your World" at Disneyland with stunning visuals and a beautiful dress.
"first time singing part of your world live since filming 😭🌊", she says on TikTok. "singing vocals in freezing cold weather at 3am in [the] morning while [the] park is closed is no joke but we did it!"
Halle Bailey Is A Real Life Disney Princess
While on a trip to Disney World, Bailey "met this beautiful lady Mila Rose who made me cry," Bailey said in her Instagram stories. "She just hugged me so tight."
This moment — along with all the fan reactions to Bailey's casting — prove just how important representation is.
Watch The Official Trailer For "The Little Mermaid"

This is our first real look at Melissa McCarthy's Ursula and we're obsessed. It's clear that this new film will have all of the emotion and beauty we loved in the original cartoon.
See The Poster For The Movie
Image via Walt Disney Studios
Is The Little Mermaid Coming In 2023?
Yes! The Little Mermaid premiered on May 26, 2023.
Who Is Playing Ariel In "The Little Mermaid"?
Image via Disney
In the new live action remake, Ariel will be played by actress and singer Halle Bailey. Jodi Benson voiced the original cartoon. After Bailey received backlash due to her role as Ariel, she isn't letting it shake her.
"I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they’re special, and that they should be a princess in every single way,” Bailey says in an interview with Variety.
Who Else Is In The Cast?
In addition to Bailey as Ariel, we'll see Jonah Hauer-King as Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Simone Ashley as Indira, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.
When Was "The Little Mermaid" 2023 Announced?

Deadline announced that the remake was in its early stages in 2016 but it wasn't until 2019 that Bailey and the rest of the cast began to be announced. Disney dropped the first teaser for the movie at the D23 Expo the weekend of September 9, 2022 when they announced a bunch of brand new titles.
How can I watch Little Mermaid 2023 at home?
Image via Disney
Jonah Hauer-King and Halle Bailey in "The Little Mermaid"
Great news! If you saw the under-the-sea spectacular multiple times in theaters (we did!) then you'll be able to watch the full film on Disney+ starting September 6.
What Are People Saying?
Is The Little Mermaid your favorite Disney movie? Let us know in the comments and keep an eye out our Movies page for the latest trending news!
Featured image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
This post has been updated.