Honestly, the buzz around the little mermaid 2023 cast was loud enough to shake the ocean floor long before the first trailer even dropped. People had opinions. Some were thrilled about the fresh faces, while others were protective of their 1989 childhood memories. But now that the bubbles have settled, looking back at who actually brought Atlantica to life reveals a mix of seasoned Oscar winners and newcomers who basically had to carry the weight of a billion-dollar franchise on their fins.
Halle Bailey wasn't just a choice; she was the moment. When she was cast as Ariel, the internet essentially broke. Most people know her from the musical duo Chloe x Halle, but playing a Disney princess is a different beast entirely. She brought this floaty, ethereal quality to the role that made the "Part of Your World" sequence feel brand new, even if you’ve heard the song a thousand times. It’s her voice that really anchors the movie. It’s powerful. It’s crystal clear. It makes you forget the CGI water looks a bit murky sometimes.
Why the Little Mermaid 2023 Cast Actually Worked
The chemistry between the leads is usually where these live-action remakes sink or swim. Jonah Hauer-King played Prince Eric, and unlike the original cartoon where Eric was mostly just "the handsome guy with a dog," the 2023 version gave him an actual personality. He’s a collector. He’s a bit of a nerd for the sea. Casting an actor who could play "sensitive explorer" instead of just "generic royal" made the romance with Ariel feel way more earned.
They bonded over maps. It was cute.
Then you have the heavy hitters. Melissa McCarthy as Ursula was a choice that had people divided until they saw the makeup. She leaned into the drag queen roots of the character—Ursula was originally modeled after Divine, after all—and McCarthy clearly had a blast with "Poor Unfortunate Souls." She’s campy, she’s menacing, and she uses her tentacles like a high-fashion accessory.
The Under-the-Sea Support Squad
Voice acting in these movies is a thankless job because you're competing with memories of iconic performances. Daveed Diggs, the guy who blew everyone's minds in Hamilton, took on Sebastian. He didn't try to do a carbon copy of Samuel E. Wright. Instead, he brought a frantic, high-energy anxiety to the crab that worked surprisingly well with the hyper-realistic animation.
Speaking of animation, the "skinny Flounder" drama was real. Jacob Tremblay voiced the little guy, and while the character design was... controversial (he looks like a real fish, which is sorta jarring), Tremblay’s performance was pure heart. He’s a great actor—remember Room?—and he made Flounder feel like a genuine kid caught in a mess.
- Awkwafina as Scuttle: They changed the bird to a northern gannet so she could go underwater. It gave us "The Scuttlebutt," a rap song that people either love or deeply fear.
- Javier Bardem as King Triton: He brought some serious gravitas. He played Triton less like a shouty king and more like a grieving, overprotective dad who just happens to have a magical trident.
- Art Malik as Sir Grimsby: A steady hand for the surface world scenes.
- Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina: A brand new character for the 2023 film, adding some much-needed backstory to Eric’s life.
The Sisters of the Seven Seas
One of the coolest updates in the little mermaid 2023 cast was how they handled Ariel’s sisters. In the 1989 version, they were basically a color-coded singing group. In 2023, they each represent a specific ocean and have distinct looks. Simone Ashley, who you probably know from Bridgerton, played Indira. Seeing her in a mermaid tail was a nice crossover for fans of period dramas and fantasy alike. The other sisters—Perla, Caspia, Mala, Tamika, and Karina—were played by Lorena Andrea, Nathalie Sorrell, Karolina Conchet, Sienna King, and Kajsa Mohammar.
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It made the world feel bigger. Atlantica felt like a global kingdom, not just one reef.
Jessica Alexander as Vanessa (Ursula’s human form) also deserves a shoutout. She didn't have much screen time, but she nailed the "evil girl pretending to be sweet" vibe perfectly. Her performance during the wedding scene was a highlight for a lot of fans who wanted a bit more edge in the remake.
What We Can Learn From the Casting Choices
If you're looking at the little mermaid 2023 cast as a case study for modern Hollywood, the takeaway is pretty clear: talent usually wins out over tradition. The backlash to the casting was loud, but the performance reviews were generally solid. Halle Bailey’s Ariel became a symbol for a whole new generation of kids who finally saw themselves in a "classic" story.
Whether you're a die-hard fan of the original or just someone who likes a good musical, the 2023 cast brought a level of emotional depth that the 1989 version—as great as it is—didn't always have room for.
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To get the most out of your next rewatch, pay attention to the small character moments between Eric and Ariel on the island. That’s where the casting really shines. You can also track the career trajectories of the younger cast members like Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King, as this film has clearly set them up for major leading roles in the next few years. If you want to dive deeper into the production, look for the "behind-the-scenes" features on Disney+ that show how they did the underwater stunts—it'll make you appreciate the actors' physical work way more.
Actionable Insight: Watch the 2023 version side-by-side with the 1989 original to see how the different acting styles change the "vibe" of the story. Pay close attention to the lyric changes in "Kiss the Girl"—they were updated to reflect modern ideas of consent, and the actors deliver them with a lot of nuance.