It's one of Disney’s biggest live-action movies in years, but is The Little Mermaid streaming yet? And when will it be popping up on Disney Plus?
Twenty-three-year-old singer-actress Halle Bailey assumes the role of the iconic red-haired mermaid this time around, unleashing a wave of mermaidcore fashions and frosted eyeshadow looks with her.
Following Emma Watson and Lily James as live-action princesses (the former having played Belle and the latter Cinderella), Bailey's casting marked only the second time that a Black actor has ever portrayed a Disney princess (after Anika Noni Rose, who voiced Tiana in The Princess and the Frog), and the performer didn't take on the responsibility lightly.
“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 told Variety. “There’s no reason that they shouldn’t be. That reassurance was something that I needed.”
As for playing Ariel onscreen, Bailey said she could relate to the iconic character: “Her sense of longing, her searching for herself, was something that I could resonate with. She knew where she wanted to go, and she wasn’t going to let anybody stop her.”
So, when can you watch The Little Mermaid from the comfort of your own couch? Here's what to know.
Is 'The Little Mermaid' streaming?
As of press time, the only way to watch The Little Mermaid is by heading to the movie theater. The film had its world premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, May 8, and was then released theatrically on Friday, May 26.
Going by Disney's history, the Rob Marshall-directed remake will likely have a theatrical window of 90 days before it becomes available for streaming.
When is 'The Little Mermaid' coming to Disney Plus?
Seeing as how The Little Mermaid is a Disney property, it will of course become available on the Disney Plus platform. And again, if the movie sticks to Disney tradition and has a 90-day theatrical window, that means the live-action film might become available on the streamer by the end of August 2023.
That means you will need a Disney Plus subscription to stream The Little Mermaid, both the remake as well as the animated original and its sequels. Current subscription options include the ad-supported Basic plan for $7.99 per month or the commercial-free Premium plan for $10.99 monthly.
Is 'The Little Mermaid' the same story as the original?
Yes, the 2023 remake follows the same plot as the animated feature.
“The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric," reads the film's official synopsis.
"While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life—and her father’s crown—in jeopardy."
Watch 'The Little Mermaid' trailer:
Who is in 'The Little Mermaid' cast?
Along with Bailey, there are several familiar faces in The Little Mermaid cast, including Melissa McCarthy as the iconic sea witch Ursula, Javier Bardem as Ariel's dad King Triton, and Bridgerton's Simone Ashley as one of her sisters, but also be on the lookout for a special cameo from the original movie Ariel: Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel in the animated film, can be seen as a market vendor in the remake.
Check out the full cast below:
- Halle Bailey as Ariel
- Jonah Hauer-King as Eric
- Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
- Jessica Alexander as Vanessa
- Javier Bardem as King Triton
- Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina
- Art Malik as Sir Grimsby
- Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian
- Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder
- Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle
- Martina Laird as Lashana
- Emily Coates as Rosa
- Christopher Fairbank as Hawkins
- John Dagleish as Mulligan
- Jude Akuwudike as Joshua
- Lorena Andrea as Perla
- Simone Ashley as Indira
- Karolina Conchet as Mala
- Sienna King as Tamika
- Kajsa Mohammar as Karina
- Nathalie Sorrell as Caspia
How long is 'The Little Mermaid'?
The runtime of the new The Little Mermaid movie is two hours and 15 minutes. And if you're curious about the movie's rating, while the family-friendly original is rated G, the remake is rated PG for some "action/peril and scary images," so it might not be suitable for children under age 10.
