Director defends Little Mermaid remake amidst controversy

Rob Marshall, director of the highly anticipated 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, has addressed the criticism and comparisons to the original 1989 animated classic. Despite facing backlash since the announcement in 2016, Marshall has defended the new adaptation against concerns of potentially tarnishing the legacy of the beloved Disney film.

In response to the controversy surrounding changes made to the live-action remake, Marshall emphasized the importance of reflecting societal progress in any adaptation of an animated classic. He recently spoke to IndieWire and shared his thoughts on the matter. See his statement below:

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When it comes to adapting a beloved animated film into a live-action version, it's important to approach it as a completely new project. You can't simply rely on what worked in the original and expect it to translate seamlessly to a live-action format. It's an opportunity to explore the story in a different way and bring new elements to the table.

At the heart of it all, it's still about the story. It's like taking a classic opera or play and staging it again with a fresh perspective. In this case, we're looking at a new iteration of The Little Mermaid, one that takes into account the changes and developments that have occurred in the world since the original was released in 1989. How can we pay homage to what worked before while still pushing the story forward in a meaningful way? That's the challenge.

As Marshall notes, The Little Mermaid remake features numerous additions and alterations from the original, resulting in a runtime of over 2 hours. Some of these changes are subtle enough to go unnoticed by viewers. For instance, Scuttle, who helps Ariel expand her collection of human objects, is now voiced by Awkwafina and portrayed as a female northern gannet instead of a male seagull. This modification, while minor, demonstrates the filmmakers' meticulous attention to detail rather than simply relying on the audience's fondness for the original film.

Larger changes have been made to The Little Mermaid in the live-action remake. This includes the addition of three new songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken, which provide further insight into the film's central characters. The new songs are "The Scuttlebutt" for Sebastian and Scuttle, "For The First Time" which is Ariel's first song on land, and Prince Eric's solo "Wild Uncharted Waters." In addition to the new songs, audiences will also get to know the prince better through the addition of his controlling mother, which adds depth to the character and makes him more relatable to Ariel.

However, the most important update to the story is Ariel's motivation. In the original film, Ariel's primary goal was to be with the prince, but in the new version her motivation comes from her desire for independence. The film uses a feminist perspective to show the importance of women having the freedom to be themselves for their own sake, rather than just to please a man. This message is highlighted more clearly in the live-action remake than in the original.

Early reviews of the film are promising, but whether or not it lives up to the original remains to be seen. Audiences will have to wait until it hits theaters to find out.