Ariel is on his way to China.
Disney’s live action The little Mermaid has set a release date in China for May 26, day and day with the film’s launch in North America.
Directed by Rob Marshall, The little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula. Javier Bardem, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay and Jonah Hauer-King co-star in the film, which retells the story from the 1989 animated classic about a mermaid who longs to join the human world. Oscar winner Alan Menken returns to update his score and write a new song with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Disney’s live-action remakes have generally performed well in China, but they’ve been on a gradual downward trajectory in recent years. The Jungle Book earned $150 million in 2016, followed by Beauty and the Beast with $85.7 million in 2017, The lionking (2019) with $120 million, Alladin (2019) with $53 million, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) for $48.8 million, Mulan (2020) with $40 million and Cruella (2021) with $24 million.
Upcoming animated remakes from Disney include Snow Whitestarring Rachel Zegler and scheduled to release in March 2024. Others in the works include Lilo & Stitchas well as one Lion King precursor, Mufasa: The Lion Kingby director Barry Jenkins.
Bailey, known as one half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, was cast as The little Mermaid‘s star in July 2019, with the film marking her biggest after-work role to date, including a role in Adult. She will also be seen in the near future The color purple musical. In the US, the first full trailer is being promoted The little Mermaid generated more than 108 million worldwide views in the first 24 hours, making it one of the most watched trailers for any title in Disney’s stable of live-action reimaginings.