When Disney announced the 2023 Little Mermaid cast, the internet basically imploded. Honestly, it was a lot. You had people cheering for representation and others losing their minds over "historical accuracy" in a movie about a talking crab and a girl with a fish tail. It was messy.
But now that the dust has settled and we've all had time to actually watch the thing, it’s clear that director Rob Marshall wasn't just throwing names at a dartboard. This wasn't some cynical corporate checklist. The cast he assembled ended up being the strongest part of a movie that, let's be real, faced an uphill battle from day one.
The Ariel We Didn't Know We Needed
Halle Bailey. That's the name.
Before this, most people knew her from the R&B duo Chloe x Halle. When she was cast as Ariel, the backlash was loud, but her performance ended up being a total mic-drop moment. It wasn’t just about the singing, though her version of "Part of Your World" is arguably one of the best vocal performances in Disney history. It was the eyes.
She had this wide-eyed, slightly frantic curiosity that made you believe she’d actually trade her voice for a pair of legs. Marshall famously said he was moved to tears during her audition. You can see why. She brought a specific kind of "soulful" vulnerability that the 1989 cartoon version—as iconic as it is—didn't quite have the runtime to explore.
Melissa McCarthy and the Drag Inspiration
Then there’s Ursula. Casting Melissa McCarthy felt like a safe "big name" move at first, but there’s a layer to her performance most people missed.
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McCarthy actually started her career in the Manhattan drag scene as a character named Miss Y. Why does that matter? Because the original Ursula from the 1980s was famously modeled after the legendary drag queen Divine.
Ursula’s New Depth
- The Look: She kept the high-arched brows and the "theatre" of it all, but with a grittier, sea-witch edge.
- The Vibe: She played Ursula as an "injured" character—someone who was cast out of the family.
- The Voice: She didn't try to mimic Pat Carroll's deep growl perfectly; she made it more of a manipulative, husky purr.
It worked because it felt dangerous. When she’s on screen, you’re kinda scared of her, but you also want to see what she does next. That’s the hallmark of a great villain.
The Men of the Seven Seas: Eric and Triton
Let’s talk about Prince Eric. In the original, he’s basically a piece of driftwood with a nice jawline. Jonah Hauer-King had a tough job making him a real person.
The 2023 version gave him a backstory. He’s adopted. He feels like an outsider in his own castle. He collects weird artifacts from the sea just like Ariel collects "human stuff." Giving him the song "Wild Uncharted Waters" finally gave the guy a personality beyond "guy who owns a dog."
And then you have Javier Bardem as King Triton. Seeing an Oscar winner known for playing terrifying hitmen (looking at you, No Country for Old Men) playing a worried girl-dad was a trip. Bardem brought a heavy, grounded gravitas to the role. Interestingly, he actually filmed a song called "Impossible Child" that was eventually cut from the theatrical release. It’s a shame, honestly, because it delved deep into his fear of losing Ariel, making his anger feel less like "mean king" and more like "terrified parent."
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Those CGI Animals (The Good and the Weird)
We have to address the crab in the room. Daveed Diggs as Sebastian was a stroke of genius. The man has a Tony for Hamilton, so we knew the flow would be there for "Under the Sea." His comedic timing with Awkwafina’s Scuttle provided the levity the movie desperately needed when things got too "dark and gritty" underwater.
However, the "realistic" CGI for Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) was... a choice.
Making a tropical fish look anatomically correct while it's trying to express human anxiety is a tall order. It felt a bit "uncanny valley" for some viewers. But if you close your eyes and just listen to Tremblay’s performance, the heart of the character is still there. He’s still the anxious, loyal best friend we grew up with.
The Sisters and the Seven Seas
One of the coolest updates in the 2023 Little Mermaid cast was the expansion of Ariel’s sisters. They weren't just background dancers this time. Each sister represented one of the seven seas:
- Mala (Karolina Conchet)
- Indira (Simone Ashley - yes, the Bridgerton star!)
- Caspia (Nathalie Sorrell)
- Tamika (Sienna King)
- Karina (Kajsa Mohammar)
- Perla (Lorena Andrea)
Giving them distinct looks and territories made the world feel much larger. It felt like a global kingdom rather than just one little reef.
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Why the Casting Still Matters
A lot of the conversation around this movie was exhausting. But when the film finally hit Disney+ and the box office numbers rolled in (earning over $560 million), the talent spoke for itself.
The chemistry between Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King actually felt earned. They spent more time talking (and gesturing) than the original pair, which made the romance feel less like a "love at first sight" trope and more like two nerds finding each other.
If you’re looking to revisit the film or diving in for the first time, keep an eye out for the small details. Look for Jodi Benson’s (the original Ariel) cameo as a market vendor. Notice how Art Malik’s Sir Grimsby acts more like a father figure to Eric than a mere butler. These small casting choices are what keep the movie from feeling like a hollow remake.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Extras: If you have Disney+, go find the "Impossible Child" deleted scene. It completely changes how you view Javier Bardem’s Triton.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Specifically, compare "The Scuttlebutt" to the rest of the score. It’s the Lin-Manuel Miranda influence at its peak—love it or hate it, it’s a masterclass in character-specific writing.
- Check out the Sisters' Lore: Each sister has a specific "job" in the ocean's ecosystem mentioned in the tie-in books, which makes their brief screen time much more interesting.