“The Little Mermaid” renews the story of the Little Mermaid

After years of controversy, the feature film “The Little Mermaid” comes to the big screen with a renewed speech that “shows both the world we would like to live in and the one we already live in,” Melissa McCarthy, who plays the cruel sea witch Ursula, told EFE.

In 2019, Disney announced that it would begin production on a human version of Ariel, a popular teenage mermaid who dreams of finding out what’s on the surface, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen, whose animated film adaptation was popularized in 1989.

The news shocked fans around the world world confirming that the red-haired Caucasian woman will be played by an African-American actress Halle Bailey. Releasing the wave Racist comments which questioned the change of identity of a fictional character.

International premiere of “The Little Mermaid”

Despite this, the film continued its course and is now movie will land in international theaters on May 26 to immerse in the discussions to an updated maritime history.

“From the beginning, director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca wanted to show how diverse the world is. How boring life would be if we were all the same!”, recounted McCarthy.

In a meeting with international media attended by EFE, Marshall and DeLuca claimed that “there was no particular motivation or intent in the casting of the actress” and in their view, the reaction was “archaic” and “the second century”.

Marshall even claimed to have auditioned with thousands of girls from different countries ethnicities. And that Bailey’s performance was “simply brilliant” because she “had it all qualities which we were looking for in our Ariel”.

Diversity in the film was not limited to the color of an individual’s skin character. Well, the director brought together a wide array of physical characteristics in his cast. With actors of various nationalities who, in McCarthy’s words, “break down walls and doors” on the way to inclusion.

a paradigm shift

From McCarthy’s perspective, Marshall’s new proposal was not far behind when it came to refreshment social concepts the first meal. Which are strongly criticized today, such as romantic love and autonomy of women.

“The 1989 film was about a girl who wanted a boy and finally found him; this is much more about Ariel. And her struggle to create the life she wants and it turns out she meets Prince Eric along the way, but what she’s really looking for is a life she can choose, and he does the same,” said the actress.

McCarthy is great villain history and the witch who, to harm her brother, King TritonAriel’s father, will try to destroy the young mermaid’s life.

Spanish actor Javier Bardem He gives life to the king of the ocean, and in an interview with EFE he said that his character left him several lessons that, as the father of a girl in real life, he will have to apply in the “near future”.

“(The film) helps you accept things that are difficult for parents, like what true love is, which in this case is respect freedom daughters and let them choose what they want to become,” he said.

Musically, Halle Bailey’s powerful voice comes to life with the song “Part of Your World”. While McCarthy interprets “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, both exist in the original version, though project Also includes previously unreleased tracks.

“We wanted to do something new, something fresh, trying to maintain a balance between the old and the new,” said composer Alan Menken, who made the original score with Howard Ashman.

Ultimately, Marshall, who is also the author of works such as “Chicago” (2002) or “Mary Poppins Returns” (2018), concludes that his version of the story will continue to inspire new generations to fight for their dreams and not be fear of the unknown.