By Monique
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs, Jonah Hauer-King, Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay and Alan Menken attend the World Premiere of Disney’s live-action feature “The Little Mermaid” at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on May 08, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
The cast and crew of The Little Mermaid came out to the film’s world premiere, saying how proud they am of being part of the live-action adaptation.
“It’s incredible. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” said Sienna King, who plays Ariel’s sister Tamika. “I literally feel like a little girl…It’s giving me butterflies.”
Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel in the original film, voiced her enthusiasm for being a part of The Little Mermaid legacy.
“I am beyond thrilled, beyond honored, beyond blessed to be here. It blows my mind that our little animated film from 37 years ago when I started working with the [Walt Disney] company has transitioned and that I’m standing on this blue carpet,” she said. “It’s very surreal. It makes me think of Howard and this cast and how proud I am just to be part of this film and part of our story.”
Daveed Diggs, who voices Sebastian in the live-action film, said that the film allowed the cast to come together as a group.
“This team really let us…stretch out. We got to spend so much time together so we really got to become like a cast and a company and play off of each other [when] doing voice work, you don’t normally get to do,” he said.
Watch the interviews with the cast and crew, including Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Art Malik, Jessica Alexander, composer Alan Menken and Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price, below. The Little Mermaid comes to theaters May 26.
Julian 