THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY: THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE, ABC!

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From HawaiiNewsNow:

NEWS
In her next major role, Auli’i Cravalho prepares to go ‘under the sea’

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -Hawaii’s own Aulii Cravalho just landed her next major role.

The 18-year-old Kamehameha Schools graduate will play Ariel in a live concert production of The Little Mermaid.

She’ll star in the production alongside other big-name stars such as Queen Latifah who will be playing the evil sea witch Ursula, and musician Shaggy as Sebastian.

Cravalho who rose to stardom as Disney’s voice of Moana.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote, “From ‘Beyond the Reef’ to ‘Under the Sea’!!!! 🌊✨❤️ I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT YOU HAVE NO IDEA AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

The live remake will hit television screens on Nov. 5. It’s being done to honor the 30th anniversary of the beloved Disney classic.

http://instagram.com/p/B0yup8ZAC5z

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From Wltz:

Queen Latifah, Shaggy Cast In The Little Mermaid
BIG NAMES CAST FOR LIVE TV VERSION OF "THE LITTLE MERMAID": AULI'I CRAVALHO AS ARIEL, QUEEN LATIFAH AS URSULA, SHAGGY AS SEBASTIAN
August 7, 2019 WLTZ Staff

Big names cast for live TV version of “The Little Mermaid”: Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula, Shaggy as Sebastian.
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Big names cast for live TV version of “The Little Mermaid”: Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Ursula, Shaggy as Sebastian.
(CNN) – Some big names have been cast for the live TV version of the animated Disney classic “The Little Mermaid.”

It will star Queen Latifah as the evil sea witch Ursula.

Reggae star Shaggy has been cast as Sebastian, the meddling crustacean.

And Auli’i Cravalho will be Ariel.

Cravalho was also the voice of the title character in Disney’s “Moana.”

The production is described as a hybrid that will include intricate sets and costumes, along with music from the original 1989 film and the 2008 Broadway stage show.

“The Wonderful World of Disney Presents the Little Mermaid Live!” airs November 5th on ABC.

The production shouldn’t be confused with Disney’s own live-action cinematic remake of “The Little Mermaid.”

The movie will star Halle Bailey as Ariel.

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From Essence:

Queen Latifah To Star As Ursula in ABC’s Live TV Musical Of ‘The Little Mermaid’
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH "GROWN-ISH" STAR HALLE BAILEY’S UPCOMING PORTRAYAL OF LEAD CHARACTER ARIEL IN THE FILM REMAKE.

BY KIMBERLY WILSON · AUGUST 7, 2019
Queen Latifah is booked, busy and blessed.

ABC has announced that Latifah will be starring as Ursula in its live TV musical version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, airing on November 5. Not to be confused with Grown-ish star Halle Bailey’s upcoming portrayal as the lead character of Ariel in the feature film remake, ABC will be blending elements of the original animated film with live performances fit for television.

Sis took to Twitter to share her excitement about the news. “Fortunately I know a little magic,” she wrote in a tweet from her official account.

“Excited to be part of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!” she continued.

Latifah has been a triple threat for decades now — rapping, singing, and acting – and now she can add Disney to her ever-growing resume.

Joining Queen Latifah in the stellar cast are R&B singer Shaggy, who plays loveable crab Sebastian, and actress Auli’I Cravalho (Moana, Rise) as Ariel, with further casting to be announced.

We can’t wait to see Latifah continue to shine on screen, and off!

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From Playbill:

ABC to Present TV Concert of The Little Mermaid Starring Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, More
BY RYAN MCPHEE
AUG 05, 2019

The live event will hit the small screen November 5.

ABC joins the live musical broadcast circuit this fall with a concert presentation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Moana and Rise star Auli’I Cravalho will star as Ariel, with Grammy and Emmy winner Queen Latifah (NBC's The Wiz Live!) as Ursula and Grammy winner Shaggy as Sebastian. The concert will air on the network November 5.

The broadcast will weave live performances from a specially designed concert stage with clips from the original movie. Cast members will be in costume for the performance, which will feature songs from both the film and the 2008 Broadway adaptation.

The network had originally announced the Wonderful World of Disney project in 2017, with a projected air date of October 3 that year. The special was reportedly scrapped and postponed due to budget constraints.

Richard Kraft will serve as executive producer, having previously helmed a similarly devised 2016 Hollywood Bowl concert featuring the likes of Sara Bareilles, Rebel Wilson, Tituss Burgess, and Darren Criss. Earlier this year, Lea Michele and Harvey Fierstein headlined a similar event.

The Little Mermaid marks the only live TV musical actively in development following a flurry of offerings that included Fox's Rent and Grease and NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar and Hairspray. The latter network had also been working on a live presentation of Hair and Bye Bye Birdie, both of which have been dropped.

Meanwhile, the familiar aquatic tale is also set to hit the big screen with a live-action film adaptation, with Lin-Manuel Miranda collaborating with the 1989 movie's Alan Menken on new songs. (Menken won two Oscars for his work on the animated feature, including one with the late Howard Ashman for "Under the Sea.") Halle Bailey of Chloe x Halle will star as Ariel.

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From Instagram:

http://instagram.com/p/B02HQMeAiVP

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From Geektyrant:

New Details Regarding ABC's THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE Which Will Incorporate The Animated Film
Event TV The Wonderful World of Disney: The Little Mermaid LiveThe Little MermaidHamish HamiltonABC An Hour Agoby Tommy Williams

We recently learned that ABC was reviving The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Little Mermaid Live and now we have some additional details thanks to director and executive producer Hamish Hamilton.

According to Hamilton, The Little Mermaid Live will feature a broadcast of the animated film, but when it comes time for a musical number, we’ll cut over to the theater with the live cast performing the songs.

“We’re celebrating this incredible animated feature, and we’re gonna do it on the Disney lot. We’re going to do it live to air in front of a live audience in a room that we’ve created.”
In addition, there will be key moments such as Ariel on the rock that are recreated with the new actors.

“So how we are actually getting between the feature and our world, so just imagine that that’s a live fish and a live sailor on our stage. We are going to recreate Ariel’s cave around her in the room and reveal it in a clever and wonderful way.

So there will be visual signatures all the way through that will reinforce the original feature. We may or may not have beautiful jellyfish hanging from the ceiling. We may or may not have beautiful schools of fish running through the scene [via] puppeteers.”

Also, there will be some additions made to the musical score and a couple of the Broadway songs will be used as well. I just hope that Scuttle’s song “Positoovity” is not included, but it probably will be.

“There are two or three songs from the Broadway musical. We are not creating any new songs or any new characters or any new environments. We are celebrating the animated feature, but we are also celebrating the great world of The Little Mermaid.”
The costumes for the live performers were not revealed, but it sounds like they will not be very extravagant.

“I would rather not give that away. What I would say is that we’re not going to take too much of a departure from the original. We’re not people aren’t going to be out there in space costumes. If you interpret that as you will.”
If you’re wanting to see the show live, chances are you’ll have to be living on the east coast as it sounds like the show will only be done live once.

“Hopefully, we are only going to do it once. We’ll do it once, and I think there are 10, maybe 11 live musical moments or numbers within. It’s still fluctuating a little bit, but I think it’s 10 or 11.”

Finally, Hamilton has also said that the live performers will not be overdubbing over the animated film when that is being shown.

“So the animated feature, when it is the animated feature section, will play in its entirety. We are not asking these guys to re-voice the original feature, no.

What I would say is the entire movie is being scored again so there’s a continuity of musical flow.”
What do you think of these plans for The Little Mermaid Live? The performance is set to air on November 5.

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From HollywoodLife:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
AUGUST 7, 2019 4:07PM EDT
Auli’i Cravalho Reveals Why Playing Ariel In ‘The Little Mermaid Live!’ Is ‘Really Special’ To Her & More

Auli’i Cravalho is taking on iconic Disney princess Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’ live event. She spoke EXCLUSIVELY with HL about why this role is so ‘special,’ her thoughts on Queen Latifah as Ursula, and more.

Auli’i Cravalho is pulling double duty when it comes to Disney princesses. She was the voice of Moana in the beloved 2016 animated movie of the same name and she will be playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC. HollywoodLife talked EXCLUSIVELY with the 18-year-old all about her new role. “It’s incredible,” Auli’i told HollywoodLife at ABC’s Summer TCA All-Star Party on Aug. 5. “I was very happy with one Disney princess. I didn’t think I could be greedy and get two, but they were kind enough to ask if I wanted to play Ariel and, of course, my response was yes, yes, yes.”

This isn’t just your typical live musical event. The Little Mermaid Live! is a celebration of the animated movie’s 30th anniversary. There will be live musical performances by a star-studded cast that will be interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. “So what our lovely project is doing is it’s really a celebration of both the original animation and then live performances of the music itself,” Auli’i continued. “So it’s truly a wonderful mix of celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Little Mermaid. And that’s really special to me because my directors, Ron Clements and John Musker, directed both Moana and The Little Mermaid.”

While Auli’i is so excited to sing “Part of Your World,” she can’t wait to see Queen Latifah, 49, as Ursula. “I am really, really excited to hear ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls,'” Auli’i continued. “I cannot imagine what Queen Latifah’s going to bring to that role. She is just oozing confidence. I can’t wait to see it.” Auli’i also admitted that there is a little bit of pressure when it comes to performing live. “My really only live thing I’ve done was the Oscars,” she said. “I don’t mean to brag like that, but that was on such a beautiful, large scale and I was nervous and I kind of got hit on the back of the head with a flag. So I’m looking forward to this live performance, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I had a little bit of nerves.”

Auli’i has already met the original Ariel — the one and only Jodi Benson, 57. “She’s wonderful,” the actress revealed. “She’s truly been one of my big sister princesses. She sat me down, I remember, the last time I saw her at D23 and she said, ‘Just get ready. This is your legacy. You will forever be Moana and buckle up, Buttercup, because this will follow you for the rest of your life.'” And now I get to play Ariel. So I’m sending her all my love.” Halle Bailey, 19, has been cast as Ariel in the live-action Disney film and Auli’i had nothing but amazing things to say. “I love her casting,” Auli’i told HollywoodLife. “I cannot wait to see what she brings to the role. I’m grateful to be playing Ariel, so I can’t wait to see what she does as well.”

As for Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid live event, Auli’i said, “Anyone and everyone. If they’ve got the voice and they’ve got that charm, go for it.” Shaggy, 50, will play Sebastian. The Little Mermaid Live! will air Nov. 5 on ABC.

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From Justjared:

Auli'i Cravalho & Halle Bailey Bring Mermaid Magic to Variety's Power of Young Hollywood Party

Auli’i Cravalho just can’t stop smiling while arriving for Variety’s 2019 Power of Young Hollywood event held at The H Club Los Angeles on Tuesday night (August 6) in Los Angeles.

The 18-year-old actress met up with fellow Ariel, Halle Bailey, inside the annual party.

Auli’i will star in ABC’s live concert of the classic movie.

Halle‘s grown-ish co-stars Chloe Bailey, Diggy Simmons, and Trevor Jackson were also at the party, along with Ajiona Alexus, Marsai Martin, Dumbo‘s Nico Parker, model Bella Harris, Pokemon stars Kathryn Newton and Justice Smith and Euphoria‘s Hunter Schafer and Storm Reid.

See what Halle shared about the backlash she’s gotten since scoring the role of Ariel in the live action Little Mermaid movie!

FYI: Halle and Chloe wore Rhea Costa dresses. Auli’i wore a Kate Spade New York dress with a Tadashi Shoji clutch, Hearts on Fire jewelry, and Ruthie Davis heels. Hunter wore a Christopher Kane outfit. Storm wore Nina Ricci.

45+ pics inside of Auli’i Cravalho, Halle Bailey and more…

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From TheSource:

QUEEN LATIFAH SET TO STAR AS URSULA IN ABC’S ‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’
ZOE ZORKA AUGUST 8, 2019
So far, 2019 has been one of the hottest years on record in many parts of the world, so it’s fitting that mermaids (specifically Little Mermaid remakes) are all the rage this summer. (After all, who wouldn’t want to live under the sea right about now?)

This week, ABC unveiled more info about their own live TV musical “The Little Mermaid” series- and for hip hop fans of all ages, it’s sure to be a treat as they announced that hip-hop legend Queen Latifah has been cast as Ursula.

The project, which has been in the works since 2017, is a collaboration between The Wonderful World of Disney and ABC and according to a statement, which has been dubbed a “never-before-seen hybrid format” the show will “feature beautifully intricate sets and costumes, with music from the original.” The format will weave live musical performances from the cast interwoven into a broadcast of the original feature film.

(ABC’s live TV musical ‘The Little Mermaid” series is not to be confused with Disney’s upcoming big-screen live-action version of The Little Mermaid featuring Halle Bailey.)

Queen Latifah took to Twitter making the following statement:

“Fortunately I know a little magic.” Excited to be part of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! #Ursula #TheLittleMermaid #TeamSeaWitch

For those unfamiliar with the premise of The Little Mermaid, Urusla is the sea witch that grants Ariel her ability to walk on land (in exchange for her voice, obviously), which likely mean that we can expect to hear Queen Latifah’s amazing range of vocal abilities.

But Queen Latifah isn’t the only hip-hop artist announced so far. ABC announced that Shaggy will play the iconic loveable crab Sebastian. Further casting will be announced in coming weeks.

The Little Mermaid Live! will air on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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From YoungHollywood:

ABC'S "THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE" TAPS ANOTHER DISNEY HEROINE AS ITS ARIEL!
Published: 2019-08-09
Written by Kevin Norman

I am a massive fan of musical theatre, and I am an even bigger fan of the fact that they are being performed live on televisions all across the world. Thus far, we have had Rent, Hairspray, The Wiz, and even Peter Pan. Live musicals are an immersive way to get people excited about theatre, and along with all the buzz of Disney remakes, it’s no surprise the next live musical is one that is taking us under the sea. NBC has chosen The Little Mermaid to be its next musical smash!

Auli'i Cravalho has been cast to play the title role of Ariel. Cravalho first made a splash on screens as the voice of Moana, and to be honest, I sing “How Far I’ll Go” at least once a week while driving in traffic. Being no stranger to water, or Disney for that matter, it’s honestly a perfect fit for Cravalho. She is young, bubbly, and extremely talented. All qualities I believe Ariel has, and if you’re upset about the fact she’s not a natural redhead, get over it. Mermaids come in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Joining Carvalho is jaw-dropping Queen Latifah playing our favorite sea witch Ursula and Shaggy taking on the annoying but caring Sebastian. Neither Latifah nor Shaggy are new to the musical stage. Latifah was in the Oscar-winning hit Chicago and one of my favorites Hairspray. And of course, we all know Shaggy from his famous song “It Wasn’t Me”.

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast has not been released, but I am already so excited. The stage version follows the same storyline of the original classic, but it includes many new musical and dance numbers. Also, it has some of the best harmonies I have ever heard. I have no doubt this will be a hit, and I can’t wait to be singing and dancing in my living room.

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From Variety:

ABC Chief: ‘Little Mermaid’ Live Musical Will Be Disney Plus Launchpad

ABC is timing its first-ever live-musical event, “The Little Mermaid,” to air just a week before the debut of Disney Plus in order to drum up attention for the hotly anticipated streaming platform.

“We wanted to launch it in November, in time to coincide with the launch of Disney Plus,” ABC network president Karey Burke told Variety. “It felt like a great promotional platform to speak to that. And I didn’t want to do a lot of musicals for the sake of doing one. What felt right was to do something that was a classic Disney title. To have the support of the Wonderful World of Disney behind this, just felt like all the stars have now aligned for us to try our first one with this particular piece.”

The live, televised “Little Mermaid,” which will combine parts of the original animated film with live performances from “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho and others, has been scheduled to air on Nov. 5. Disney Plus becomes available to consumers on Nov. 12. According to the ABC chief, the idea of a “Little Mermaid” live-TV musical had been sitting on the back burner for a while.

ABC Sees Primetime Ad Gains in TV's Upfront Market
Freeform's Karey Burke on Being Part of the 'Gayest Network on Television'
“I got [to ABC] and had a strategy to more live events, and Rob Mills — who oversees live and unscripted — came to me and said, ‘Well there’s this,’ and I’d actually heard about it while I was at Freeform,” said Burke, who was previously head of original programming at the Disney-owned cable channel. The decision to revive the project came together around the 30th anniversary of the original animated Disney film, after which it was then fast-tracked.

The event will take place in a “dive-in theater” on the Disney lot. Early renderings of the stage show a long, winding set-piece that hundreds of viewers can approach, producer Hamish Hamilton showed Television Critics Assn. tour attendees on Monday. And there’s room for more such events, if “The Little Mermaid” plays to an enthusiastic audience.

“Should this be successful, which I’m pretty hopeful it will be, I think we’ll look to do it again with the right property,” said Burke.

It’s unsurprising that Disney would sync up its properties to boost awareness of its upcoming pay-TV subscription service that will challenge Netflix and other existing streamers on the market, and that Morgan Stanley analysts expect to attract 13 million subscribers by the end of 2020, and more than 130 million subscribers internationally by 2024. While Disney-controlled Hulu is currently the off-network home for previously aired episodes of ABC shows, there is room for adjusting where those secondary homes for series may be. As of now, such streaming-rights decisions are still in early talks.

“I expect shows that we have that are made decidedly more family friendly or are more in the Disney brand — Disney Plus then becomes a potential platform downstream,” said Burke. “Right now there’s no plans for the current arrangement with Hulu to change.”

Separately, when asked about the now-dropped charges against “The Bachelor” creator Mike Fleiss and whether there was value in continuing to work with a creator who has had a history of generating controversial headlines, Burke said that to best of her knowledge, there haven’t been any known incidents related to Fleiss on the set of any of “The Bachelor” or its sister shows.


“It’s my responsibility to make sure the show is safe and comfortable, a respectable work environment for all involved, and to the best of my knowledge, that has not been challenged,” she said.

Additionally, Burke expects the investigation into Afton Williamson’s claims of discrimination and assault on the set of “The Rookie” to wrap up in a few weeks.

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From Hiplatina:

Moana Star Auli’i Cravalho Will Play the Little Mermaid in TV Special
News and Entertainment

Posted: August 12, 2019

The Little Mermaid has been going through some much needed diverse changes this year. The idea that Disney princesses have to be white is simply not acceptable anymore. With so much ridiculous uproar last month over the news that a young black woman would be playing Ariel in the new live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, we now have confirmation that our beloved mermaid will forever be freed of living in an Anglo-only world.

Last week, it was announced that the Wonderful World of Disney would televise The Little Mermaid Live! starring Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel. This version should not be confused with the live-action feature film of The Little Mermaid starring Halle Bailey. The TV version, which will air on Nov. 5 on ABC, also stars Queen Latifah as Ursula and Shaggy as Sebastian. Cravalho is no stranger to playing Disney characters. You may remember her as the starring voice of Moana.

Cravalho herself cannot be labeled. The 18-year-old, multiracial Hawaiin is the daughter of a Native Hawaiian mother and a Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Chinese, and Irish father. Haters are always going to hate but the truth is there’s really nothing they can argue. The truth is, folks need to understand that we are no longer accepting TV or film roles exclusively going to white actors. Not anymore.


´-_ゝ-`
@fruityfruit6
When Halle Bailey was announced to play Ariel: oh no!! Ariel is supposed to be a redhead from Denmark!! This is an affront to my white bread and mayonnaise life!!

When Auli’i Cravalho was announced to play Ariel: *crickets*

12
11:18 PM - Aug 5, 2019
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We’re hoping that having both a Black actress and a multi-racial actress playing Ariel will finally shut the haters up. Ariel is not one type of fictional character because she is adored by a spectrum of fans, which include brown and black young women. We have the right to see ourselves in her as well. In fact, it is crucial that young brown and black girl see themselves reflected in film and television. Seeing Disney princesses that look like them can deeply impact their self-esteem and identity.

One person that is talking up a storm about this thrilling news — as she should be — is Cravalho. In an interview with Hollywood Life, she spoke about what it’s like to play two iconic Disney characters at just 18. “I was very happy with one Disney princess,” she told the online publication. “I didn’t think I could be greedy and get two, but they were kind enough to ask if I wanted to play Ariel and, of course, my response was yes, yes, yes.”


ً
@prssyandrews
nothing but respect for my ariels

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While she’s super excited to dig into the role, she admitted she’s mostly gearing up for what should be an unforgettable duet.

“I am really, really excited to hear ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls,'” Cravalho said. “I cannot imagine what Queen Latifah’s going to bring to that role. She is just oozing confidence. I can’t wait to see it.”

We can’t either! We’re excited to see more Disney film remakes with more WOC playing the lead characters!

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From ETOnline:

AWARDS
Queen Latifah Opens Up About Playing Ursula in 'The Little Mermaid Live!'
By Scott Baumgartner‍ 9:09 PM PDT, August 26, 2019

Queen Latifah is sharing some details about the upcoming TV musical The Little Mermaid Live! -- and her villainous role!

The rapper and actress was on her way into the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, where ET's Keltie Knight caught up with her to discuss playing the villainous Ursula in the TV event.

"It's just been something that we've been working on for a while. It was perfect timing that it came together," she shared. "I'm so excited to play Ursula. I can't wait to see what spin Hamish [Hamilton, the musical's director] helps me put on this character."

Shaggy and Auli'i Cravalho are also joining the Little Mermaid Live! cast as Sebastian and Ariel, respectively.

The 49-year-old performer also gave a shout-out to Melissa McCarthy, who is rumored to be playing the sea witch in the upcoming live-action, big-screen adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

"I'm excited for Melissa McCarthy as well," Latifah said. "So, I know there's a lot of confusion but I love her, God bless her and we can definitely do a duet."

Later, she addressed McCarthy directly: "You know, we got rhymes for you. I'll do the singing, you do the rhyming."

Latifah also shared her excitement that her pal, Missy Elliott, received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year's ceremony.

"I'm so excited for her to be awarded tonight," the Hollywood veteran gushed. "She deserves it. She's one of the best writers, producers, entertainers that we have known in our generation, so I'm so excited that she's getting honored tonight."

In late June, ET learned that McCarthy is in talks to join the film's cast, which also includes Halle Bailey as Ariel. However, when speaking with the actress at the premiere for her new film, The Kitchen, she played coy about the casting news.

"Who's Ursula?" McCarthy said, feigning ignorance but with a knowing look. "But am I interested? I'm very interested," she quickly added, before overtly winking to the camera several times with a sly smile.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! will air Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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From All Disney Dolls Tumblr:

Meeting Jodi Benson and Auli'i Cravalho

SO one of the big highlights of d23 was the little mermaid 30th anniversary panel. It opened with Jodi Benson singing part of your world with a handful of adorable little girls dressed as ariel. The panel was fantastic with discussions about the movie’s making and clips of recording sessions from alot of the cast and auli'i cravalho came out to say hi because shell be playing ariel in the live TV rendition. The finale saw us showered in bubbles with an epic ending performance. As people shuffled out of the arena i purposely held back. I had my mind set, i wanted to meet Jodi Benson. My plan was to ask someone up front if itd be possible if i could meet her (long shot i know but i was gonna try). I kinda chickened out and decided to leave following a small group of people, the only ones left in the area. To my surprise we were not exiting, we were being escorted backstage. I just kinda quietly followed meanwhile internally freaking out lol Once backstage auli'i walked by, she was on her way somewhere, and i gave her a big hug and told her how awesome she was and how much i loved Moana. Soon i began looking around and started recognizing people, Jodi’s son, Traci Hines (famous ariel cosplayer) and i even ended up chatting with someone who follows me! And then out came Jodi looking absolutely gorgeous, she greeted the small group, all of which were either friends, family or people who had met her multiple times. (me im internally still freaking out lol) i just sit back and watch her interact with people for a minute and the she comes up to me and greats me. I tell her how much Ariel means to me, even more now since my voice surgery. She gave me a big hug and we took a photo. I cant stress enough how genuine and sweet she was. After that everyone else took their pictures, i talked with Traci a bit and got a picture with her. I was just on cloud nine the whole time haha it was an experience ill never forget.

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From OprahMag:

The Little Mermaid Live! Is Coming to ABC! How It Differs from Disney's Live-Action Movie
Two words: Queen Latifah.

By Kimberly Zapata
Sep 16, 2019

In September, ABC announced a live remake of The Little Mermaid.
The musical event will air at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 5.
Auliʻi Cravalho, best known for playing Moana in the award-winning 2016 Disney film, will tackle the role of Ariel.
While we know Ursula rules the ocean, it seems Disney is about to rule the big and silver screen. In addition to the upcoming mermaid movie, starring Halle Bailey, The Wonderful World of Disney is working with ABC to present The Little Mermaid Live!, and if rumors are true, the special has a killer cast.

Here's everything we know about the girl who has everything.

When will it air?
According to ABC, The Little Mermaid Live! will air on Tuesday, November 5. The event is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Who will play Ariel?
If you're a Disney fan, the voice of the "little mermaid" will be familiar. Very familiar. Auliʻi Cravalho, best known for playing Moana in the award-winning 2016 Disney film, will tackle the role of Ariel.

Any word on Ursula?
One of the most menacing and terrifying of Disney villains, Ursula, is slated to be played by none other than Queen Latifah. When news broke of Latifah's casting, the singer revealed she was "excited" to take on the role of the sea witch. "Fortunately I know a little magic," Latifah wrote on Instagram. "Excited to be a part of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!"


Have there been any other casting announcements?
While many have speculated who will play King Triton, Prince Eric, Flounder, Flotsam, and Jetsam, the only other official announcement—at least to date—is Sebastian. The quirky crustacean will be portrayed by Shaggy.

What will the format be?
According to ABC President Karey Burke, The Little Mermaid Live! will “seamless[ly] interweave” live musical performances with clips from the animated film and puppetry. “It’s unlike anything that any other musical has done,” Burke said. She also assured fans the musical event would not take away from the live-action remake slated to be released sometime next year. "Ours is distinctly different from the feature film."

How can I watch The Little Mermaid Live!?
You can view The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC, ABC.com, on the ABC app— from your smartphone or tablet—and through other streaming devices, including Roku, AppleTV, and Amazon Fire TV.

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From ChicagoSunTimes:

As Shaggy’s music matures, he still wants to offer a melodic escape
The reggae artist aims to ‘edutain’ with both fun sounds and thoughtful messages.

By Mark Braboy | For the Sun-Times Sep 16, 2019, 4:17pm CDT

Dancehall/reggae musician Shaggy has been cast as Sebastian the crab on an upcoming live ABC production of “The Little Mermaid.” Jonathan Mannion
As the dancehall/reggae legend and activist Shaggy enjoys the success from the long-awaited release of his first solo album in 12 years, “Wah Gwaan!?,” he continues to travel North America backing up UB40 for the group’s 40th anniversary tour.

“Chicago is an amazing market. What we’re trying to do is just bring great reggae flavor,” said Shaggy.

Shaggy, 50, wrote his latest record with a more personal and mature approach than any of his solo work years ago, as evident on songs like “Wrong Room” and “Frenemies.” He could not turn a blind eye on things such as politics and societal issues as he got older.

“Back in the day, you saw politics and what’s going on in the world on the news. Nowadays it’s in your device. It’s hard not to get involved in what’s going on in life and policies that are changing that affects your life. That comes with growth. And I just felt like at this point I’m grown, I had to talk about grown things, things that make your mind think. Instead of just entertaining, I had to educate, so I had to ‘edutain,’ ” Shaggy explained.

He says that the key for his music to age gracefully without compromising the fun, eclectic, and sensual spirit he’s been known for throughout his career is to do it cleverly while continuing to be a melodic escape from a harsh reality.

“I’ve been on the road; I’ve toured and had a fanbase of people who come out to see me and a lot of people love what I do. So, you don’t want to take it too crazy or too seriously and some fans will be like, ‘I get that, Shaggy, I get that. But I just want to listen to you and forget my problems within these two hours. I don’t need a concert to remind me how problematic my life is.’ There’s a line there. You go to do it, but you gotta do it to where you’ll tell the story, but there’s still got to be that level of hope that’s there. You still got to have that entertainment aspect. You got to write songs that talk about it, but shed light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Light is what many fans will be looking for after hearing of the destruction left behind in the Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian.

“It’s so tragic. It’s devastating, but we’re helpless at this point until the experts go in and do the evacuation and clean up and all of that, so the only thing we can do right now is to help in the rebuilding process [by donating],” said the Kingston, Jamaica native, adding that he plans to get involved in the rebuilding efforts.

Meanwhile, music and humanitarianism aren’t the only thing the artist is focused on, as he was also tapped to play Ariel’s right-hand crab Sebastian on ABC’s Nov. 5 special “The Little Mermaid Live” alongside Auli’i Cravalho and Queen Latifah.

“[Sebastian] really has Ariel’s back. He’s trying to advise her; he’s really working toward her happiness even though he might be going against the king. Even a song like ‘Kiss the Girl,’ he’s like, go ’head and kiss the girl because love is in the air, he sees how happy it makes her, so he tells her that under the sea’s better. It’s dangerous when you go up top. That’s so much of the role I play when I’m around here with some of my young artists,” said Shaggy.

“I knew this was a character I could do. The universe works in an amazing way [because] I didn’t audition for this. ABC called me and when I accepted it, I met the head of ABC and they said, ‘I’m glad you took it because we didn’t have a Plan B (laughs). [My kids] are super stoked about it, they want to be there when it’s happening live, and I want to make that happen for them.”

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From Deadline:

John Stamos & Graham Phillips Join ‘The Little Mermaid Live!’ On ABC
By Denise Petski

September 25, 2019 9:00am

John Stamos will be reprising his Chef Louis role from the Hollywood Bowl production of The Little Mermaid in ABC’s upcoming The Little Mermaid Live! Joining Stamos and the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho (Ariel), Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian) is The Good Wife alum Graham Phillips, who will return to his live theater roots in the role of Prince Eric. The Little Mermaid Live! airs Tuesday, November 5 at 8 PM on ABC.

Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances by its star-studded cast interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine intricate sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor. Also joining the creative team are choreographers Nick and RJ Durrell, who recently completed work on P!nk’s The Beautiful Trauma World Tour.

Both two-time Emmy nominee Stamos and Phillips will draw from their extensive stage experience, Stamos having made his Broadway debut in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, before joining the casts of Tony-nominated The Best Man, and Tony Award-winning musicals Nine and Cabaret, among others. Phillips originated the role of Evan in Broadway’s 13.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! is produced by Done+Dusted. Executive producers include Done+Dusted’s Hamish Hamilton, who will also direct, Katy Mullan, David Jammy, Raj Kapoor and Ian Stewart. Also executive producing is Richard Kraft, producer and director of the acclaimed Hollywood Bowl productions of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

Stamos is repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and ICM. Phillips is repped by Gersh, Industry Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.

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The first trailer!

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NOW THIS LOOKS PROMISING BUT BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT

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I love this trailer!
Auli'i Cravalho is a beautiful Ariel, Queen Latifah a great Ursula and Graham Phillips an handsome Prince Eric

From Metro:

ABC announces cast of The Little Mermaid Live with new trailer, so who’s playing who?

US TV network ABC just dropped a first look at The Little Mermaid Live! cast in full costume and it looks like viewers are in for a treat. To be clear: This latest development is for the live show of The Little Mermaid on ABC due in November, not the live-action remake, which hasn’t even started filming yet. This live staging of the show incorporates sets from the Broadway version as well as costumes, plus music from the original film.

Disney’s Moana star Auli’i Cravalho will voice the underwater princess, while 50-year-old Shaggy will take on the role of her crab best friend Sebastian. Queen Latifah will be playing the villainous Ursula, John Stamos the mischievous Chef Louis and Graham Phillips as the handsome Prince Eric. Set to the tune of Ariel’s lyrical signature, the trailer ends with Auli’i doing the classic Ariel hair flick while emerging out of the water.

The upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is still in the very early stages. Halle Bailey, who was cast as Ariel, recently confessed her role in the upcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid is a ‘dream come true’. Halle, who was born the same year the Disney classic was release, has said she was ‘honored’ to have been selected for the role which will see her take on the mermaid Ariel, who sells her voice to a sea witch in return for legs and the chance to fall in love with Prince Eric.