The Walt Disney Studios has announced The Little Mermaid Disney+ debut and release of I Am Groot Season 2. Both titles will be available on the streaming service in September.
Disney’s live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar-winning animated musical classic The Little Mermaid, which opened in theaters in May and went on to gross more than $542 million at the global box office, will premiere on Disney+ September 6, 2023.
The Little Mermaid Disney+ release will include special bonus content, including Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) as King Triton performing the song “Impossible Child” with music by multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights); “Passing the Dinglehopper,” and “Under the Sea – Song Breakdown.”
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.
While mermaids are forbidden from interacting 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.
The film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (grown-ish) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (A Dog’s Way Home) as Eric; Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (Raya and the Last Dragon) as the voice of Scuttle; and Jacob Tremblay (Room) as the voice of Flounder.
Also starring are Noma Dumezweni (Mary Poppins Returns) as The Queen; Art Malik (Homeland) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Being the Ricardos) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me? Bridesmaids) as Ursula.
The Little Mermaid is directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall (Chicago, Mary Poppins Returns) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (Life of Pi, Finding Neverland).
The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights).
The film is produced by two-time Emmy winner Marc Platt (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, Grease Live!), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (Tony Bennett: An American Classic), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (The Lion King) serving as executive producer.
In addition to The Little Mermaid Disney+ release, the second season of I Am Groot is coming as well. Five new I Am Groot shots are heading to the streaming service on September 6.
The troublemaking twig returns to mischief in the second season of I Am Groot. This time, Baby Groot finds himself exploring the universe and beyond aboard the Guardians’ spaceships, coming face-to-face — or nose-to-nose — with new and colorful creatures and environments.
Vin Diesel is back as the voice of Groot in five all-new shorts. Kirsten Lepore, writer/director of season one, returns in the same capacity for season two.
The supervising producer is Danielle Costa; producers are Craig Rittenbaum and Alex Scharf; executive producers are Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Kirsten Lepore. Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt is co-executive producer.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.