If you missed out on seeing The Little Mermaid in theaters early this summer, then we have good news for you. This week, the 2023 remake of the animated classic has arrived on Disney+. And as you either revisit the big-screen musical or finally watch the live-action Disney remake for the first time, we need to talk about one big way that this version sets itself apart from the original 1989 Disney animated flick. On that note, when CinemaBlend interviewed director Rob Marshall ahead of its theatrical release, he discussed why it’s much “more emotional” in live action. 

Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid really establishes its tone with its opening shots, which features gorgeous footage of ocean waves rolling along. A Hans Christian Anderson quote also appears on screen that reads: “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more." Marshall shared his reasoning for starting the movie in such an emotional way, with these words: 

Since the movie hit theaters, it's been praised for its deeper exploration of the original story’s themes. That includes its approach to fleshing out Prince Eric from the “wooden character” he was in the animated movie and crafting a more nuanced romance between Ariel and Eric. Part of how the 2023 new movie release communicates that and more is through its first frames with the aforementioned quote from Hans Christian Anderson, the author who original penned the beloved fairytale. You can see the message below:

There’s definitely something about seeing the film open with this quote that really sets the stage for a less glitzy telling of the tale. It puts into perspective how the world of Halle Bailey’s Ariel is perhaps not as romanticized as the animated version's is. Ironically, one can get emotional due to the sheer though that her kind cannot even cry like humans do. This tone just encompasses the entire feature. For instance, the “Part Of Your World” sequence is much more palpable, thanks to the movie’s taking a “more emotional” approach. During our conversation with Rob Marshall, the director also said this about the tone: 

Since the film released in May, the movie received positive reviews from general audiences and critics alike. CinemaBlend’s own The Little Mermaid review awarded the production four out of five stars. While the movie didn’t make a billion dollars at the box office like other live-action Disney movies or other bigger hits this year like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Barbie, it remains a stunning adaptation of a beloved story with a sweet, emotional core. To experience those feels again or for the first time, check out the movie now using a Disney+ subscription. 

Javier Bardem, renowned for his captivating dramatic performances in often villainous roles like Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men and as one of the most effective James Bond baddies, Raoul Silva in Skyfall, decided to venture into the realm of family films for the sake of his daughter. Little did he know that he would soon find himself in a spine-chilling predicament. During the filming of Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, Bardem experienced a harrowing moment, which director Rob Marshall candidly shared. According to the filmmaker, the accident sent shockwaves through the production and instilled a genuine fear for the Biutiful actor’s well-being.

In an enthralling conversation featured on Entertainment Weekly's popular "Around the Table" series, Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca gathered with the incredible cast of The Little Mermaid to dive into the behind-the-scenes magic of the live-action adaptation that swam to the top of the box office this past weekend. Among the fascinating topics explored during the interview was the film's ambitious production, which involved pushing the boundaries of underwater filming techniques. During this discussion, Marshall shared with the heart-stopping incident involving Javier Bardem, who portrays the mighty King Triton in the movie. The Mary Poppins Returns filmmaker recounted the gripping moment vividly, saying:

The revelation of the Oscar winner's alarming situation added an intense layer to an already captivating conversation. In the process, it also proved a glimpse into the challenges faced during filming. However, his unwavering composure and reassuring demeanor proved instrumental in alleviating the crew's concerns, emphasizing his professionalism and strength.

Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca highlighted the exceptional collaboration with the cast of Disney's live-action remake. The director remarked that the film marked the team's most challenging technical endeavor to date. They also revealed a surprising discovery, as they explained how they only learned of Halle Bailey's swimming abilities after casting her in Ariel. This revelation proved fortuitous since it played a crucial role and, during the chat, Marshall praised her for that. Jonah Hauer-King, who portrays Bailey's on-screen love interest Prince Eric, echoed Marshall's gratitude while humorously admitting that he's not a good swimmer.

Leading up to its premiere, The Little Mermaid faced some pre-release criticism due to changes made in the remake, particularly in Prince Eric's storyline. Fans have also been hesitant about alterations to the beloved soundtrack from the 1989 film, with some concerns surrounding tweaked lyrics in the classic songs. However, even Jodi Benson, the original voice actress for Ariel, acknowledged the necessity of these modifications. While some critics' responses to the new songs were mixed, there was widespread acclaim for Halle Bailey's performance, with CinemaBlend's Corey Chichizola hailing her as a "bonafide superstar."

Now, audiences can witness the culmination of Javier Bardem and his co-stars' diligent technical work come to life in The Little Mermaid, which has finally debuted as part of the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. To catch the enchanting tale on the big screen, be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Ariel wanted to be where the people are — so she went! Halle Bailey, the star of The Little Mermaid live-action remake that hit theaters this weekend, was shown making her own visit to the movies, walking around on those — what do you call them? — feet, right past oblivious fans who were hilariously taking selfies in front of a huge, wall-sized advertisement for the movie. The actress shared a video of her undercover operation on social media, as she thanked everyone for helping to make The Little Mermaid No. 1 at the box office this weekend.

Halle Bailey showed out in several Ariel-themed looks ahead of her movie’s release, but when she arrived at the theater for a Memorial Day weekend viewing, she was sporting a much stealthier wardrobe of all black, including a long leather jacket. No wonder fans didn’t recognize her! Check out the funny video below: 

Facemasks have proven to be an effective way for celebrities to maintain a little more anonymity, and coupled with her sunglasses, Halle Bailey was able to waltz undetected into the movie theater to catch a glimpse of herself on the big screen. I can’t help but imagine how those fans in the video would react to knowing that she was RIGHT THERE as they snapped their pics. One fan stood with her arms out, showing off The Little Mermaid display, while another took a selfie with the huge poster. 

It looks like the Ariel portrayer walked in toward the beginning of the movie — after the lights went out — which was a good plan if she was trying to remain incognito. Her video ended before she and her companion got all the way inside, but hopefully she did get to sit down and enjoy seeing the results of all of her hard work. 

The grown-ish actress certainly wasn’t alone in her choice to see The Little Mermaid — the latest in a number of upcoming live-action Disney remakes. The movie from Rob Marshall, with music by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, more than quadrupled the earnings of this weekend’s No. 2 finisher at the box office. Halle Bailey’s film brought in $95.5 million, while Fast X dropped to second place in its second weekend with $23 million. It was a good start for the Disney movie in a summer filled with family-friendly options. 

The Little Mermaid faced some criticism ahead of its premiere for some of the changes made for the remake, including the development of Prince Eric’s story. Also, the 1989 film’s soundtrack is still beloved by many, so fans were wary of tweaks made to some of the lyrics of the classic songs; however, even the 1989 Ariel voice actress Jodi Benson agreed those alterations were necessary. In the end, even while critics’ responses to the new songs were middling, CinemaBlend’s Corey Chichizola was among many who praised Halle Bailey’s performance, as he called her a “bonafide superstar.”

The film is in theaters now, so if you want to be part of that world (all-black attire and sunglasses optional), see if buying a 3-D ticket to The Little Mermaid is right for you. Also check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is hitting the big screen this year — including a number of big releases between now and Labor Day. 

With the live-action The Little Mermaid now part of our world, comparisons to the 1989 classic are unavoidable. Among them is an expanded role for Prince Eric, who even gets his own tune called “Wild Uncharted Waters.” When CinemaBlend spoke to the filmmakers about the remake, they got honest about the original animated version of the character seriously needing, well… a personality. 

During our interview with director Rob Marshall, the filmmaker also behind Mary Poppins Returns and Into The Woods shared that it was decided to do the most when it came to revising to Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King. In his words: 

While Ariel often gets the flack for trading her voice for legs in order to get the guy, Prince Eric in the 1989 version was never really fleshed out. The Little Mermaid director saw that pretty quickly, and as he alluded to, legendary composer Alan Menken was completely on board with giving Eric a more dynamic role in the remake. When CinemaBlend additionally spoke to Menken (while at a piano) about Eric’s new song “Wild Uncharted Waters,” Menken said this about composing it with Lin-Manuel Miranda: 

Prince Eric was always mostly a pretty piece of animated man, wasn’t he? Looking back, his only arc in the animated movie is being saved by Ariel and going on a goose chase to marry her because he loves the sound of her voice while she’s literally in front of him the whole movie. In the 2023 new movie release, Hauer-King’s version has a lot more going for him. Aside from his beautiful song, he’s illustrated as an outsider, like Ariel, who doesn’t fit into his own adoptive home somewhere in the Caribbean, and he seeks a world of adventure exploring the seas. So when he meets Ariel, the pair connect on a much deeper level. 

Additionally, Halle Bailey’s Ariel gets more depth in the remake, along with more music). Javier Bardem’s King Triton was also supposed to get his own song, but Rob Marshall told us he made the difficult decision to cut it. The Little Mermaid has received positive reviews from critics overall, with many touting the film as one of the best live-action Disney movies. You can check out The Little Mermaid in theaters now and see how the filmmakers revised Prince Eric. 

There has been a lot of buzz around the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which is just one of a number of big family-friendly movies coming out this summer. Unfortunately a lot of the chatter has been racist backlash against Halle Bailey being cast as Ariel. Audiences will soon be able to draw their own conclusions about the portrayal – and that of the other actors, including Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Daveed Diggs putting his own mark on Sebastian – when the director Rob Marshall's film hits theaters on May 26. While we wait, let’s take a look at the reviews.

The latter two actors also faced some trolling – or at least their meme-worthy characters did – after movie posters were released showing the animated versions of Ariel’s crab and fish friends. Despite some apparent wariness from fans loyal to the 1989 movie, the first reactions to the remake were positive, with moviegoers lauding Halle Bailey, saying she proves herself, both with her singing voice and in the way she embodies the classic Disney character. In CinemaBlend’s review of The Little Mermaid, Corey Chichizola agrees, rating the movie 4 out of 5 stars and calling the actress a “bonafide superstar” in one of Disney’s best live-action adaptations. He continues: 

Alyssa Mora of IGN rates The Little Mermaid a “Good” 7 out of 10, saying Halle Bailey gives a star-making performance in a movie that is an acceptable, if not always successful, adaptation of the animated original. The critic concludes: 

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY rates the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, warning skeptical viewers that Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid is a different animal than the 1989 classic – and nearly an hour longer. This critic joins the others in saying Halle Bailey is the selling point of this remake, but says the original music from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda stick out against the beloved originals: 

Caryn James of BBC rates it 3 stars out of 5, calling the lead actress “captivating” as Ariel, while Daveed Diggs is the perfect comic voice for her crab companion. James says it’s a “spectacle with an allure and vitality of its own,” but like the critic above, she says the new songs don’t measure up to the original soundtrack offerings. The review states: 

Leigh Monson of AV Club grades the movie a C+, admitting that this Disney live-action remake is better than others that have come before, but that doesn’t mean that it’s good. The critic continues: 

It seems like the critics are all praising Halle Bailey, with plenty of love for Melissa McCarthy, as well. However, the skepticism that surrounds the movie, which follows several highly criticized live-action remakes from the House of Mouse, seems to center around the new music written for the movie and the additions that extend its runtime by 52 minutes, compared to the 1989 original.

These reviews shouldn’t and won’t keep audiences from checking The Little Mermaid out in theaters, though, after its release Friday, May 26. Be sure to also take a peek at our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is coming soon, and see what other upcoming Disney movies you can look forward to. 

Over the past few years, Disney has made a habit out of adapting its animated blockbusters into live-action movie spectacles. This trend largely started with Maleficent (which was more of an original story), before extending to remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. This nostalgic subgenre has pulled on the heart strings of moviegoers who grew up on the originals, but it's been a mixed bag in regards to critical response. So when director Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid was first announced, it got a big reaction out fans, and the pressure was on.

Prior to the marketing campaign for the film amping up and revealing the stunning underwater footage, much of the discourse surrounding the project was surrounding its star, singer/actress Halle Bailey. The 23 year-old recording artist was the subject of some racist backlash relating to her casting, which seemed to put a cloud over the blockbuster. But after seeing the movie, the discourse is going to stop in its tracks – especially any of those naysayers who doubted that Bailey could deliver as Ariel. 

Halle Bailey is outstanding as Ariel.

At just 23 years of age, Halle Bailey has already had an impressive career. She's one half of the pop duo Chloe x Halle, which includes her sister Chloe Bailey. And while The Little Mermaid marks her first time as a movie leading lady, she's got acting credits in projects like Grown-ish. Her casting in the new Disney film got the internet into a tizzy originally, but you can't deny her talents after seeing her performance as Ariel.

Bailey had big shoes to fill... or in this case fins. But she absolutely rises to the occasion. The camera loves her, as she plays Ariel's determination to pitch perfection. The Disney princess is super capable in this movie, and is also basically an action star during a few choice sequences. And even when Ariel doesn't have her voice, every glance and reaction from Halle Bailey shows her character's inner most thoughts. 

Of course, it's impossible to talk about Bailey's Ariel without addressing her singing voice and The Little Mermaid's various musical numbers. Rob Marshall rearranges and cuts a few songs, so the first bit of singing comes with "Part of Your World." She hits it out of the park, reimagining the iconic song with gorgeous new vocal choices that show just how talented she is. This is a star-making moment, and Bailey will be getting more acting projects going forward. 

Rob Marshall offers beautiful new visuals, but he also delivers with the original Little Mermaid’s most iconic shots. 

Rob Marshall also had some big shoes to fill for The Little Mermaid, but he proves to be the perfect filmmaker for the project. He's done a number of movie musicals, including the Oscar winning Chicago adaptation, as well as other titles like Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns. While the latter projects weren't quite as well received upon their original release, he's shown an aptitude for adapting musical projects for the big screen. The Little Mermaid is going to be another adaptation that audiences are going to really respond to.

From the start of "Part of Your World," it's clear how much specificity that Marshall has put into The Little Mermaid. Each underwater sequence is meticulously choreographed, with actors and camera angles working in tandem. The visual effects are quite beautiful, and help to immerse audiences in the new movie. And the extensive wire work used when filming helps to give the underwater characters a sense of weightlessness.

While The Little Mermaid makes a number of notable changes from the animated original, it also really delivers for fans of the 1989 classic. Many of the most iconic shots from the animated flick are recreated, including Ariel emerging from the sea, singing on the rock, and even holding onto Ursula's crown as she grows in the final battle. This balance of new and old is quite effective – more so than the almost shot-for-shot remake of The Lion King. 

The Little Mermaid’s music is gorgeous… mostly. 

Part of what made the original Little Mermaid such a massive hit when it first hit theaters was the beloved musical numbers from Alan Menken. Songs like "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "Kiss The Girl" have been passed down across the generations, and have been sung countless times including the Broadway adaptation of the movie. So one of the areas that Rob Marshall's movie needed to deliver was in the music.

And largely it does just that. All the original film's songs are brought to life with gorgeous visuals, and the cast all delivers in their renditions. Melissa McCarthy is another casting choice that turned heads, but she truly understands the assignment and is deliciously evil as Ursula the Sea Witch. 

But while all the songs from the 1989 film are delightful in this new Little Mermaid, there are some original tracks included as well. This is pretty standard practice for film adaptations of musicals or animated blockbusters, as it allows the studio to submit the new creations for awards consideration. Unfortunately, these moments fail to impress in the same way as the tracks we all know and love. Prince Eric's new song "Fathoms Below" feels out of place. Then there is "The Scuttlebutt," which is a new duo between Scuttle and Sebastian (played by Awkwafina and Hamilton icon Daveed Diggs respectively). While Menken worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda on these new songs, "Scuttlebutt" in particular fails to fit into the musical language of the rest of the film. Diggs' quick rapping is very similar to some of his material from Hamilton. And adding new songs meant other beloved tracks, like "Daughters of Triton," being left on the cutting room floor.

Despite this, The Little Mermaid is a visual and musical spectacle that's sure to impress the countless fans of the original, and it's one of the best live-action Disney adaptations we've gotten so far. 

When Disney decided to remake 1989 classic The Little Mermaid for live action, the filmmakers had the opportunity to build on the story so beloved from the animation studio. One especially exciting element of the 2023 film, which has received early praise from fans who have screened it, is Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda coming together to give more characters songs – such as another one for Ariel, Prince Eric’s first solo, and a song for Scuttle. But, as Rob Marshall told CinemaBlend, there were plans for another fan-favorite character to have a new song, until it was cut out. 

Javier Bardem has some impressive pipes on him, as last year’s Lyle, Lyle Crocodile showed audiences, and this was a fact that director Rob Marshall first learned meeting the actor over a decade ago for Nine (when he auditioned for Daniel Day-Lewis’ role in the movie musical). Here’s why Bardem’s King Triton won’t have a song in The Little Mermaid, per the filmmaker: 

As it turns out, Javier Bardem recorded and filmed a tune sung by King Triton which would have given the father of Ariel a moment to share his perspective of raising his rebellious daughter. However, Marshall decided to ultimately cut “Impossible Child” from the upcoming Disney movie to serve the story. He continued,

While the original 1989 musical does not feature King Triton singing, in the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid, Ariel’s father is part of three numbers: “The World Above (Reprise),” “If Only,” and the “If Only (Reprise).” In the stage version, Ursula’s eels Flotsam and Jetsam also sing, along with Prince Eric and Scuttle. This Disney movie is clearly not drawing from these Broadway songs, though, of course, all the main songs from the original movie are included. Alan Menken did alter some of the lyrics to two beloved songs after there was backlash about the original messages. 

While a song for Javier Bardem’s King Triton sounds like something to mourn, Rob Marshall assured us the scene will resurface at one point even though it didn’t make it into the movie itself. Aside from Bardem, The Little Mermaid cast is stacked with talent who get to shine throughout the movie, including Daveed Diggs making his own mark on Sebastian, Melissa McCarthy’s delicious version of Ursula, and Halle Bailey’s star-making turn as Ariel. 

You can check out Javier Bardem’s King Triton when The Little Mermaid lands in theaters on May 26. 

For years now, Disney has made a habit out of adapting their beloved animated blockbusters into live-action movies. This largely started with Maleficent, and then inspired the release of projects like Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, The Jungle Book, and The Lion King. That tradition continues with the upcoming live-action Disney flick The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as the title character and directed by the great Rob Marshall. That movie musical has screened, see what fans are saying about the new version of The Little Mermaid. 

There's been a ton of chatter online about The Little Mermaid, especially regarding the racist backlash received by Halle Bailey herself. But the movie is nearly upon us, and the early screenings have resulted in plenty of rave reviews. That includes my very own tweet, which reads:

I said what I said. The new Little Mermaid delivers plenty of iconic moments from the original, but it also brought new songs and lines of dialogue to the table. And many of the funniest new lines came from Sebastian, voiced by Hamilton icon Daveed Diggs. And there's a ton of praise coming to both him and Halle Bailey.

Indeed, Bailey seems to be receiving universal acclaim from those lucky enough to see early screenings of The Little Mermaid. Despite the hate that Halle Bailey got online, her performance speaks for itself. Check out another tweet below: 

Points were made. Apart from her outstanding singing voice which was on display in the Little Mermaid trailer, she's also been getting props for the way she embodied Ariel as a character. Some folks who saw early screenings went so far as to call her "flawless."

Of course, there are plenty of other A-list talent involved in Disney's latest live-action flick. Chief among them is Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, who had big shoes after the voice performance of late actress Pat Carroll. A tweet from journalist Perri Nemiroff gave her props, saying:

Two others actors getting a ton of early acclaimed for their work in The Little Mermaid are Daveed Diggs and Jonah Hauer-King. The latter actor plays Prince Eric, after Harry Styles passed on the opportunity. One tweet praised both actors for their work on the movie musical, as you can see:

Another sentiment that seems to be shared on the internet by those who have seen The Little Mermaid ahead of its wide theatrical release is that it ranks high among the rest of the live-action adaptions. Although it was recently announced that Moana is getting it's own live-action movie. But previously there was some criticism thrown at projects like Mulan and The Lion King, with the latter being an almost shot-for-shot recreation of the animated blockbuster. A tweet compared this new underwater spectacle to its predecessors, reading:

Rob Marshall assembled a great cast for The Little Mermaid, and it certainly seems like the A-list actors are delivering for the latest Disney flick. Other well-known talent that gets in on the fun include Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, and Javier Bardem. And they all had big shoes (or fins) to fill in order to play their beloved characters. 

The Little Mermaid will hit theaters on May 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is getting closer and closer to its release date, and fans of the original movie musical have a lot to look forward to. The reimagining has an all-star cast and seems to be bringing some of fans' favorite moments from the animated classic to stunning life. One of the most anticipated elements of the musical is Halle Bailey, who is making her leading film role debut as Ariel. Now, director Rob Marshall is getting candid about Bailey being the first actress to audition for the role.

Rob Marshall, who also directed musicals like Chicago and Into the Woods, chatted with British Vogue about what made Halle Bailey the perfect fit for Ariel. He revealed that the singer first caught his eye when he saw her perform at the 2019 Grammy Awards, and there were a few key aspects of that public appearance that made him sure that she was his titular mermaid. He explained:

Clearly, in the filmmaker's eyes, the singer possessed all of the qualities needed for the beloved Disney character. Casting such an iconic part is a tough feat but, according to the Mary Poppins Returns helmer, Halle Bailey quickly proved herself to be right for the part. Later in the interview, the director explained just what the rising actor did for her audition -- as well as how he reacted to it:

It goes without saying that “Part of your World” is an iconic tune, thanks to the efforts of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Jodie Benson. Halle Bailey seemingly did the song justice and, if you've heard snippets of her rendition, you may agree that she makes it her own. If the stunning trailers are anything to go by, the Grown-ish alum is perfect for the role and effortlessly captures the innocence and longing that is so central to Ariel's characterization. I personally can’t wait to see what she does with the role. And let's be honest, she already looks and dresses like a Disney princess, she just needed the role to make it official.

Rob Marshall wasn’t the only one excited by Ariel’s casting. After the first Little Mermaid trailer dropped, dozens of videos of young Black girls reacting to the sneak peek went viral. The kids were elated to see themselves represented on screen, and it's a testament to just how important representation is. In addition, Halle Bailey's Ariel Barbie doll has become a bestseller and is proof that the actress is already being embraced in the titular role. Of course, we still have a few weeks to go before we can totally say that Marshall and co. were right to go with their gut and cast Bailey right away.

The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26th. Fans wanting to revisit the 1989 Disney classic ahead of the remake’s release can do so now using a Disney+ subscription. For more information on other films coming to cinemas and streaming later this year, make sure to consult our schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

Over the last few years, Disney has been regularly producing live-action remakes of their beloved animated blockbusters. This trend is continuing with the new Little Mermaid movie, which is directed by the great Rob Marshall (Chicago, Mary Poppins Returns). And he recently revealed a big change The Little Mermaid is making for Halle Bailey’s live-action film.

The new Little Mermaid movie has a killer cast, lead by pop star/actress Halle Bailey. The movie will also feature Jonah Hauer-King (A Dog’s Way Home) as leading man Prince Eric. He’s got some big shoes to fill in this role, and Rob Marshall recently spoke to EW about the new layers that’ll be coming to Eric in the upcoming movie musical. As he put it,

Well, that’s certainly intriguing. Rather than just a classic handsome Prince, it looks like Eric will be getting a bit more depth and backstory in the live-action Little Mermaid. This should not only create a more interesting character, but will presumably strengthen his romantic connection with Ariel in the process. Is it May 2023 yet?

Rob Marshall’s comments to EW help to peel back the curtain on what’s going to be new for his take on The Little Mermaid. While it certainly looks like we’re going to get plenty of homages to the animated movie and the same beloved songs, Marshall and his cast/crew are also going to put their own spin on the classic Disney story. And that includes some intriguing adjustments to the character of Prince Eric.

Later in that same conversation, Rob Marshall further explained how giving Eric a more dynamic personality will help to sell his romantic connection with Halle Bailey’s Ariel. This love story has given some reason to pause in the original movie, mostly because the Disney Princess isn’t able to speak for most of the movie. But their shared backstory will bond them in Marshall’s Little Mermaid, as she shared:

Sign me up. The idea of fighting prejudice is already one that’s been associated with the new Little Mermaid, related to Halle Bailey’s role as Ariel. There was some racist online backlash over a Black actress playing a role. But more powerful than that were the videos of young Black girls watching the movie’s trailer for the first time, and being overjoyed in seeing themselves represented in such a way. As a reminder, you can check out the first footage below, including Bailey’s outstanding vocal talents.

Along with Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King, Rob Marshall assembled a killer cast to bring The Little Mermaid to life. That includes Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Awkwafina as Flounder. Anticipation for the project has been steadily rising, and it should reach a fever pitch once a full trailer is finally released to the public.

The Little Mermaid is currently expected to arrive in theaters on May 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. There are a few other movie musicals coming our way including The Color Purple (which will also feature the talents of Halle Bailey). 

The Little Mermaid is the animated movie that launched the period known as the Disney Renaissance. As such, the essentially inevitable live-action remake was always going to be a highly anticipated project. Having said that, the movie has become one of the most talked about movies in Hollywood ever since Halle Bailey was announced as the actress who would play the role of Ariel. Director Rob Marshall admits that the attention was not something he was expecting.

The casting of Halle Bailey has resulted in some very vocal people on both sides of the decision. There has been a lot of, to be frank, racist backlash against Bailey’s casting because the previously white animated character will be played by a Black actress and a lot of people seem to have forgotten that the original character is a cartoon fish person. However, the thing Rob Marshall tells EW was really surprised about has been the positive support from those that, upon seeing Bailey in the first Little Mermaid teaser trailer, have gone viral with reactions of love. Marshall said… 

People at Disney likely were expecting the negative backlash. That sort of thing has unfortunately become all too common. The positive response however, Marshall says he was not ready for. It sounds like he just didn’t realize quite what it would mean to so many to be represented in this way. Video of little girls watching the Little Mermaid trailer went viral. Bailey has received a strong outpouring of support to counterbalance the negativity. 

Which is not to say that representation was a specific consideration when it came to casting the role. Marshall explains that many different women from many different backgrounds were considered. Marshall says there was no agenda, the goal, somewhat like Prince Eric in the movie itself, was simply to find the right voice. He continued…

In the end, they settled on Halle Bailey due to what Marshall calls her “freshness.” While there may not have been an agenda in her casting, the decision has clearly had repercussions. While certainly inspired by the original Disney film, we know the live action version will include some number of changes, including new music and an expanded role for Prince Eric. It will be a whole new world for fans of The Little Mermaid when the movie hits theaters next summer.  

Disney’s live-action version of The Little Mermaid is currently filming following a number of successful remakes from the studio’s Renaissance era. Although we’d expect the creatures Halle Bailey’s Ariel interacts with to be computer generated creatures of the sea, animal rights organization PETA is concerned about one aspect of the film and has sent out a letter to Disney with a particular request.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) penned a letter to Disney’s head of production, Sean Bailey, asking that the Little Mermaid production refrain from serving fish to its cast and crew while they film in Sardinia, Italy over the summer. As the PETA letter noted:

The letter written by PETA’s senior manager of animals in film and television, Lauren Thomasson, requests that The Little Mermaid adopt a vegan menu for its production. The organization shared that the easiest and most effective way humans can protect animals is through a plant-based diet, devoid of meat and dairy products. The letter went on to say this as well:

This isn’t the first time PETA has called out Disney; in fact, earlier this year, the organization had something to say about Cruella as well. The organization looks to be taking the subject matter of The Little Mermaid as an opportunity to remind the folks over at Disney, alongside its audiences about the importance of saving the population under the sea where Ariel hails from. The 1989 movie certainly touched on topics of fish consumption during its runtime too.

For one, its audiences form attachments to its fish characters, such as Flounder and Sebastian. And in one memorable sequence, Sebastian runs from being cooked with a round of freshly caught fish for the “Les Poissons” number. The song gives us a look at what it's like to see a fish be prepared for dinner from their own eyes as the lyrics get graphic with “I cut off their heads and I pull out their bones.” From their point of view, it’s a horror movie.

As the letter notes, The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey is already a vegan. But PETA hopes the rest of the surely massive production will follow in her footsteps (or fins) and choose to also eat plant-based diets. There has certainly been a rise in more people adopting veganism in the past few years, but reportedly the lifestyle only makes up less than one percent of people in the world.

The Little Mermaid will star Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Melissa McCarthy as Usrula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as Scuttle and newcomer Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric. The movie directed by Mary Poppins Returns’ Rob Marshall has yet to receive a release date, but it’s coming closer as the production continues to shoot in Sardinia, Italy.

Rob Marshall’s Mary Poppins Returns is very much a love-letter to its 1964 predecessor, weaving a wonderful new story with the wonderful familiar world and characters. There are many fun and smart connections made between the two features, both stylistically and narratively, and even though they are made decades apart they still feel of a piece. Obviously 99% of that is extremely purposeful and intentional, but the sequel also has a fantastic accidental link to the first movie as well – specifically through a musical sequence that both films attempted, but ultimately decided not to use.

Last week I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Rob Marshall to discuss his work on Mary Poppins Returns for the film’s home video press day, and during the interview talked about one song that was developed for the feature but not used: “The Anthropomorphic Zoo.” As the director explained, it was initially going to be a part of the extended journey taken by Mary (Emily Blunt), Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and Georgie (Joel Dawson), but was cut back when the sequence became too long:

Obviously this kind of thing happens all the time, as every movie in history has at least one potentially great cut sequence that just didn’t work as part of the finished product. What makes this case special, however, is that apparently an almost identical decision was made in the making of the original Mary Poppins.

As Rob Marshall explained, the inspiration behind “The Anthropomorphic Zoo” came directly from the beloved book series by P.L. Travers on which Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns are both based, and fate would have it that it wasn’t the first time that the sequence was considered for live-action adaptation. After deciding not to include the number, the filmmaker made a surprising discovery, learning that the original basically made the exact same call back in the early 1960s:

It’s a fantastic little coincidence – but what makes it a little extra fun is that it’s not exactly a “lost” Mary Poppins song anymore. Even though the production didn’t actually fully develop the sequence, there will be a special feature on the Digital, Blu-ray and DVD copies of Mary Poppins Returns that will give audiences a chance to listen to the track and imagine what could have been.

You can watch my full interview with Rob Marshall, including his great bit of trivia about “The Anthropomorphic Zoo” by clicking play on the video below.

Following its massively successful box office run over the past few months, Mary Poppins Returns is heading to home video very soon. The hit musical will be available for digital download starting on March 12th, and those of you who collect physical copies will be able to find 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD editions in stores on March 19th.

When Julie Andrews' Mary Poppins flew off on that umbrella in the original film, it would be the first and last time the actress coasted through the skies. Emily Blunt's iteration of the character, however, may not mind braving that pesky London fog back and forth for another adventure. Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall has just confirmed his production team over at Disney are planning a third film for the magical nanny. In his words:

Rob Marshall revealed this delightful news whilst speaking at the American Airlines, BBC America and Jaguar Land Rover Bafta Tea Party (via The Sun). The third film would see the return of Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and would draw from more source material by P.L. Travers the filmmakers looked to for the recent musical sequel.

When speaking of the franchise's potential, the Mary Poppins Returns director compared the beloved nanny to James Bond and the Star Wars films -- which seemingly will always keep going. As Rob Marshall put it:

Giving Mary Poppins a sequel in the first place did take 54 years. Many regarded the classic musical as untouchable until Disney entrusted the Chicago and Into the Woods director with helming the sequel.

Rob Marshall and his team pulled off the impossible; they introduced a Mary Poppins audiences have accepted with open arms and created a completely new musical as well. It could have gone horribly wrong.

However, the film was met with mainly positive reviews, has earned over $260 million at the box office worldwide and has received award season nods, such as four Golden Globe nominations.

Emily Blunt has even made her interest in playing Mary Poppins again in a sequel clear, which would definitively be key to making more movies. So 'why not?' is right.

The stickler for an ongoing Mary Poppins franchise would be that audiences would expect to walk into a musical each time a new one comes out, and there has never been a musical franchise that's successfully pulled off more than two films.

That's not to say it couldn't happen with Mary Poppins. The recent sequel had music duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman drum up some practically perfect original music numbers and they might have more song ideas up their sleeves.

The filmmakers do risk making a so-so Mary Poppins sequel after making a good one, which could spoil the almost squeaky-clean reception of these films thus far. Mary Poppins Returns also borrowed a lot from the original plot wise. Maybe if the next film took audiences on a completely different adventure then the first two, it would be worthwhile? Let us know what you think!

This poll is no longer available.

A few years ago, everyone couldn't stop buzzing about the hit rap musical Hamilton about one of America's Founding Fathers -- and honestly has much changed since? Fans are still struggling to get Hamilton tickets and Lin-Manuel Miranda popularity has only soared higher.

The Hamilton creator's life has certainly turned around thanks to his original musical, but it also was one the key reasons he nabbed the role of Jack the Lamplighter in Mary Poppins Returns. Here's how Lin-Manuel Miranda was picked to be in the Disney musical, according to director Rob Marshall:

There ya go, just create a history-making blockbuster musical and you're set! Back in 2015, the musical-theater-loving community couldn't get Hamilton out of their heads. So when Rob Marshall and John DeLuca, who was producer, choreographer and screen story writer along with Marshall and screenwriter David Magee on Mary Poppins Returns were looking for a Jack, Lin-Manuel Miranda was a no-brainer.

Looks like Lin-Manuel Miranda was on the filmmakers' minds right as they were trying to figure out casting. Once they met with him, it sealed the deal as he fit the bill for the sunshine-y character they were looking for in Mary Poppins Returns' Jack.

In his interview with Deadline, Rob Marshall also said that he was following Hamilton from the beginning, before it made its debut on Broadway. While Lin-Manuel Miranda was getting a lot of credit at the time for creating the musical, Marshall saw it for himself, also saw his skill as a performer.

Rob Marshall thinks part of why Mary Poppins Returns was an attractive project for Miranda was that it allowed him to hone in on just being an actor, and not also being involved in writing the project. His past projects like Moana and In the Heights have seen him primarily writing before lending his acting and singing chops.

Lin-Manuel Miranda took his shot at being a part of the Mary Poppins sequel alongside Emily Blunt, and it certainly has paid off. The movie has been positively received by critics and audiences alike for its blend of nostalgia, new material and delightful message.

You can still catch Mary Poppins Returns in theaters and check out what's in store this year with our 2019 movie release schedule.

It's no secret that nostalgia has been a massively popular trend in the entertainment industry. As such, plenty of reboots and long-awaited sequels have arrived, bringing in tons of money at the box office in the process. Disney has certainly been following suit, largely through live-action adaptations of beloved animated blockbusters. Now the House of Mouse is going the sequel route with Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns.

I recently had the chance to speak with Rob Marshall and the cast of Mary Poppins Returns. In my conversation with the director, I asked why he decided to add Colin Firth's villainous character Mr. Wilkins into the narrative. After all, the franchise has never had an antagonist. Marshall told me,

It looks like Colin Firth's new character, as well as the film's setting, truly helped to ground Mary Poppins Returns. Because although there will be plenty of flying, magical bubbles baths, and musical numbers, the story also had to be grounded in the Banks family's reality.

From the trailers for Mary Poppins Returns, you quickly learn that the beloved Banks children have fallen upon hard times in their adulthood. Michael and his children are mourning the loss of their wife/mother, while financial issues give the family and Mary Poppins a goal to overcome. Michael is in danger of losing the iconic house on Cherry Tree Lane, with the backdrop of The Great Depression making the story very real.

In Mary Poppins Returns, Colin Firth's character Mr. Wilkins is the current president of Fidelity Fiduciary Bank-- the same place that Mr. Banks worked in the original film. And with hard times falling on Michael and his family, he'll have to appeal to the Bank to let him keep his home. It's still a mystery as to how Dick Van Dyke's Mr. Dawes Jr. also factors into this narrative, but it's clear that Firth is going to provide an antagonist for the sequel.

In my same chat with Rob Marshall, he spoke to the fun of having Colin Firth play against character. After all, he rarely plays villains. Marshall said,

While Mary Poppins focused on Mr. Banks' sense fulfillment and relationship with his children, Mary Poppins Returns will give adult Michael a new issue. Loss manifests itself in many ways, including financial hardship. So how will Mary solve this problem?

You can check out my conversation with Rob Marshall below.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out. Mary Poppins Returns has some very adult themes in it, in addition to the magic Emily Blunt's title character will breathe into Cherry Tree Lane. Luckily, fans won't have to wait much longer to see it for themselves.

Mary Poppins Returns will arrive in theaters on December 19th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

Disney has had some incredible success in recent years creating new versions of and sequels for their old classics - so it's no surprise that they're investing plenty of money in the cast of one of their most anticipated upcoming projects. Mary Poppins Returns, which is set up to be a sequel to the beloved film from s1964, has been working its way through pre-production, and in the process collecting one hell of an ensemble to put in front of the camera.

Director Rob Marshall has been orchestrating things behind the scenes for Mary Poppins Returns, and with Variety dropping the news today that yet another incredibly talented actor has signed on, we figured now is the perfect time to take a closer look at the team that the production has assembled.

First on the docket is the wonderful Emily Blunt, who audiences will be able to see back on the big screen this weekend in The Girl On The Train (for which her performance is earning incredible reviews). In a piece of what can only be described as perfect casting, Blunt has been selected as the actor who will be playing the legendary titular role of Mary Poppins. Considering that Julie Andrews created an iconic take on the character back in the 1960s, she has some pretty big shoes to fill, but it's hard not to think of her as being up for the task.

Next up we have the fast rising star Lin-Manuel Miranda - whose presence makes us even more excited about the fact that Mary Poppins Returns is going to be a musical. The famed Hamilton creator/star will be playing an original character in the sequel, specifically a street lamplighter named Jack. It's hard not to think about that role and think about connections to Dick Van Dyke's Bert the chimney sweep, but we'll just have to wait and see the film to see if comparisons are justified.

Reteaming with Emily Blunt for the third time after The Devil Wears Prada and Into The Woods, Meryl Streep also has a key role in Mary Poppins Returns - and it doesn't look like she'll be playing the villain this time around. Instead, trade reports have said that she will actually be playing a relative of the eponymous character, specifically a cousin.

To get back to characters from the original Mary Poppins, the upcoming sequel will give us a look at the adults that the young Michael and Jane Banks have turned into - and the former will be played by Ben Whishaw (who came aboard the movie about a month ago). It currently remains unclear exactly what has happened in the years been the two stories, or exactly what kind of life Michael has been living since his days with a magical nanny in his youth.

Finally we have arrived at Emily Mortimer, who is the latest actor to join the impressive ensemble. Pairing up with Ben Whishaw, Mortimer will be playing the adult version of Jane Banks in Mary Poppins Returns, the character originally played by Karen Dotrice. Like Jane's brother, we don't know exactly what she's been up to in the 25 years between the original and the sequel, but we are excited to find out.

Obviously Mary Poppins Returns is turning into a very high-profile project, so you can be sure that we will have more updates for you about it as they roll in. Production is likely going to start before the end of the year, with Disney having set a December 25, 2018 release date.

It wasn't too long ago that fans of the 1964 classic Disney musical Mary Poppins started forming lynch mobs when speculation broke out on the internet that a reboot was imminent. Well, fear not Poppinites, because director Rob Marshall assures us that his pending project is no remake, but rather an extension of the original.

Marshall explained to Vulture that his take on the Mary Poppins character has nothing to do with the original, with the exception that it features the same characters and exists in the same universe. That is to say, it will be based on the book series by P.L. Travers, just like its predecessor was. Marshall expanded on the new film's plan in the following statement:

Rob Marshall is well-served to steer clear of the source material of the original, as any attempts at a remake would be met with both a sound rebuke from impassioned fans of the original as well as constant unfair comparison. However, his assertion that the book series was the Harry Potter of its time is an interesting notion. Both properties imbue a sense of the sublime in how they utilize the concept of magic or mysticism, while using it not as a prop, but as an engine that helps drive their mutual plots. It is a bit unfathomable, in an age where sequels and trilogies are musts, that the remaining seven books of the series have not yet been explored.

The original film adaptation of Mary Poppins featured Julie Andrews as the titular magical nanny, who happens upon a dysfunctional London family and sets out to show off her magic in order to change the family’s dynamic. The film is iconic for the live action component sharing the screen with animation, a device whose influence we would see for decades in such other seminal films as Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Andrews starred opposite comedy legend Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert, Poppins’ closest confidant, who serves in many occupations throughout the film, most importantly that of a chimney sweep with a chorus of rather nimble friends.

In Marshall’s care, the project seems to be in good hands. He was previously been responsible for such hits as the 1997 Emmy winning TV Cinderella musical, as well as 1999’s Emmy winning Annie and 2002’s Oscar winning Chicago. With a musical heavy resume such as his, one would presume that the project is in good hands. Here's hoping that whenever the next Mary Poppins happens, it's just as musical, whimsical, and dare I say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, as the film we love from our childhood.

The hills are alive with the sound of fairy tale musicals, as Rob Marshall’s adaptation of James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning stage production Into the Woods went into production last week in different areas of England. This is one of the more high-profile releases to come in 2014, as the Oscar-nominated Marshall is once again lined up with a prestigious project populated by some of the biggest names in the business, hopefully turning Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides into a very distant memory. Disney released a full listing of the all-star cast via press release, and there are even more familiar faces than we expected.

Into the Woods is centered on a baker, played by Can a Song Save Your Life’s James Corden, who desperately wants to start a family with his wife, played by Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada). Meryl Streep will play the Witch who casts a spell on the couple in order to reverse a curse to restore her former beauty. Simon Russell Beale (The Deep Blue Sea) will play the Baker’s father. This central story is supplemented with a host of appearances by some of the Brothers Grimm’s most famous characters.

Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) will play Cinderella, on a journey of self-discovery, and Star Trek’s Chris Pine will play her handsome and charming Prince, while Richard Glover (Sightseers) will star as his steward. Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia) will play the Stepmother who wishes for a prince to wed her awful and spoiled daughters, played by Tammy Blanchard (Blue Jasmine) and Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher). Cinderella’s late mother will be played by stage actress Joanna Riding.

Annie’s Lilla Crawford makes her feature debut as the precocious Little Red Riding Hood, which officially debunks the recent rumor that Ellen fixture-- and complete acting newbie-- Sophia Grace would take the part (fans of the musical are sighing with relief all over the place). Johnny Depp will lend his talents as what will probably be the most idiosyncratic Big Bad Wolf ever, on the hunt for Red Riding Hood. Red’s infamous Granny will be played by Annette Crosbie (Calendar Girls).

Daniel Huttlestone (Les Misérables) will star as Jack, the addle-brained boy who trades his family’s cows for five beanstalk-producing beans. His overly protective mother will be played by veteran comic actress Tracey Ullman (Tracey Takes On), and the giant in the sky will be played by Frances de la Tour (Hugo).

The sheltered and tower-bound Rapunzel is to be played by MacKenzie Mauzy (Brother’s Keeper), and Billy Magnussen (Boardwalk Empire) will play the dashing Prince who finds and saves Rapunzel and her hair.

That’s quite an assortment of performers, many of whom are seasoned on both the stage and screen. They’ll be taking on the masterful Steven Sondheim’s original music from the original play, as well as a song created specifically for the film by Sondheim.

You’ll have to wait a while to catch it in theaters, as it isn’t to be released until December 25, 2014, but you can find the 1991 performance, starring Bernadette Peters and Joanna Gleason on DVD.

Director Rob Marshall is in the midst of assembling one of the best ensemble casts we've seen in a long time for the upcoming adaptation of the fairy tale musical Into The Woods. In late April we learned that the director would be using the project to reteam with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides star Johnny Depp as well as Meryl Streep, but in the past few weeks we've also learned that Tony Award -winning British actor James Corden and both Chris Pine and Jake Gyllenhall are attached to the project. But the casting process is likely far from over, and today the pic is wrangling to get yet another talented name to sign on the dotted line.

Emily Blunt, who most recently appeared alongside Colin Firth in the dramedy Arthur Newman, is now in final talks to join the cast of Into The Woods, according to Variety. Based on the 1987 Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim, the movie centers on a childless baker and his wife who go on the hunt for a witch that put a curse on their family. During their trip they run into many of the most famous fairy tale characters of all time, including Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood. The British actress will be playing the baker's wife, the female lead, in the movie.

While it seems that Blunt won't be featured any more on the big screen this year, she has a solid 2014 slate ahead. She's completed work on Doug Liman's sci-fi action film All You Need Is Kill, and is currently getting set to star in Your Voice In My Head with Stanley Tucci.

A few major names are aligning for Walt Disney Pictures’ planned adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s smash Broadway musical Into the Woods. Variety reports that director Rob Marshall is negotiating with Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep to star in the film, which is still trying to figure out its production start date.

The musical might want to wait for Depp, who has Transcendence in the immediate future and is expected to move on to the crime thriller Black Mass next. That would allow him to collaborate with Marshall on Into The Woods in early 2014. The duo, of course, also worked on the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, while Marshall has previously helmed Broadway adaptations of Chicago and Nine.

Teaming Depp with Streep would be massive, obviously, and having Marshall tackling Sondheim is noteworthy. The director is bringing back David Krane, who worked on Chicago and Nine to do the music. James Lapine, who did the book for the Broadway show, is penning the movie’s screenplay.

For those who are unaware, Into the Woods is a mash-up of memorable fairy tales that would cast Depp as a childless baker who ventures into the woods to confront the witch (Streep) who put a curse on him and his wife. Along the way, he encounters almost every major storybook character under the sun, from Rapunzel to Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.

If Tim Burton were directing this, I’d be slightly discouraged because you could imagine EXACTLY how it’s going to look before it hits theaters. But if Depp’s willing to try a full-blown musical with Marshall, I’m more than a little intrigued. Are you?

I'm probably only going to get to say this once in my life, so here it goes: poor Johnny Depp. The last few years the actor has been working hard to try and get some of his passion projects to the big screen, but he's been running into problems at every turn. The big one, of course, is The Lone Ranger, which is currently in production, but months before the start of shooting Disney slammed the brakes on the project because the budget had inflated to $250 million. What's more, even though they were able to fix some of the budget issues in pre-production, recent reports have said that the production has already seen their costs skyrocket back to the original number. Not helping at all was the recent release of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows, which was not only written off by critics (including myself) but completely demolished at the box office by Joss Whedon's The Avengers. And the bad news just keeps on coming.

Deadline has gotten word from insiders that Warner Bros. is currently pumping the breaks on the upcoming The Thin Man remake, which Depp has been attached to for for years now. The project has not yet been given the greenlight and no actress has been hired to play the Norah, the female lead opposite Depp's Nick, but what's really holding things up is that attached director Rob Marshall (who worked with the star on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) is looking to move on to Into The Woods for Disney. The site says that Depp is in no rush to get the film made as he is looking to take some time off between projects anyway, but apparently Warners is none to happy with the performance of Dark Shadows, which cost a staggering $175 million to make.

Warner Bros. hasn't been shy about pulling plugs over the last couple of years. They famously shut down a live-action version of Akira twice and hit pause on David Dobkin's Arthur and Lancelot, also over budget concerns.

Despite early reports that producers were eyeing Rachel Weisz to star opposite Johnny Depp in Rob Marshall's remake of the classic detective comedy The Thin Man, Deadline reveals the race for the film's female lead is wide open. Looking in earnest for the perfect Nora Charles, the lauded Chicago director will begin meeting next week with a long list of leading ladies, including: Eva Green, Amy Adams, Emma Stone, Carey Mulligan, Kristen Wiig, Emily Blunt and Isla Fisher. Weisz is still in the mix, but now she's got some serious competition.

While each of the women above is beautiful and talented, the range in age and type here is slightly bewildering. In the original Thin Man film series, it was the elegant yet cute and warmly funny Myrna Loy who played Nora, the loving wife and willing partner-in-crime of William Powells' Nick Charles, a private investigator turned man of leisure who returns to his sleuthing roots when a curious mystery falls before him. It was a spirited premise that spun into five sequels, each throwing the banter-loving married couple into a new, comedy-laced adventure. And with a hero who is equal parts eccentricity and savvy, it's no surprise Depp has been pushing hard for The Thin Man's resurrection.

Now, let's parse through these casting possibilities. While Stone (Easy A) and Mulligan (Drive) are wonderfully charismatic and deservedly popular ingénues, at 23 and a baby-faced 26 respectively, they look too young to play the wife of 48-year-old Depp without things getting creepy. Of course Hollywood typically loves pairing older men with much younger women, but this is still an uncomfortable stretch. Even Powell was only 13 years Loy's senior. However, as I'd love to see either actress make her way into this comedy, let's hope Marshall is also looking to cast a younger woman for a yet-to-be revealed role.

As the for the rest, Green and Fisher seem to have a slight advantage as each has played a Depp love interest before, the former in the upcoming Dark Shadows and the latter in Gore Verbinski's animated adventure Rango. Yet Adams has never faltered as a winsome comedic performer and possesses an impressive resume filled with rollicking romances like Enchanted. Still, her Muppets co-star Blunt is better regarded for portrayals of sharp and sassy heroines, and so seems a wonderful fit for Nora. Of course, Wiig has shown a wacky appreciation for classic female character types on a variety of Saturday Night Live sketches and it would be intriguing to see her paired with Depp. Still, it's hard to shake the idea of the ever-graceful Weisz, who was silly while charming in The Brothers Bloom, as the enviably glamorous yet game Mrs. Charles.

Basically, it's difficult to predict who will walk away with the coveted role of Nora Charles. But lucky for us, Marshall has an embarrassment of riches to choose from, and none of the above would be a bad choice for to play Depp's marvelous better half.

The remake of The Thin Man that seemed like it could just be Johnny Depp's pipe dream when he first started mentioning it last fall became more of a reality when writer Jerry Stahl came on board earlier this screen; now a press release has really and truly made it official.

Rob Marshall, Depp's director in PIrates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and maybe for the next one too, is confirmed to reteam with the actor for The Thin Man, which will be a remake of the 1934 detective film starring Myrna Loy and William Powell. Despite the title, which actually refers to the man being hunted down in the mystery story, it's not actually about a single detective, but a husband and wife team who solve mysteries together while drinking a ton of cocktails and generally being more clever and awesome than you ever will be. The film is set up at Warner Bros., and with the studio conflict it's unclear how this might fit in with the two and the potential Pirates sequel.

So before we decide if this is a movie we're at all interested in seeing-- an open question to be sure-- we have to figure out who they might cast as the Nora to Johnny Depp's Nick Charles. He and Helena Bonham Carter obviously have a history together, but does that count when Tim Burton isn't involved? What women are even famous and quick-witted enough to live up to Myrna Loy? I'm kind of stumped, so if you guys have better suggestions, by all means have at it in the comments.

Johnny Depp has been all over convincing director Rob Marshall to help him remake The Thin Man, but up until this point, it’s been unclear whether this was a ludicrous pipe dream or a conceivable goal. The Dashiell Hammett novel was originally adapted in 1934 with Myrna Loy and William Powell starring as the iconic Nick and Nora Charles. Five sequels were subsequently made throughout the 30s and 40s, though it’s unclear whether Depp’s purported version would have him playing the Nick Charles of the films’ or Dashiell Hammett’s slovenly original. We still don’t know, but a screenwriter has finally been hired to answer such questions.

According to THR, Permanent Midnight scribe Jerry Stahl will pen the adaptation which will likely be produced by Warner Brothers under Johnny Depp’s production banner. The studio was reportedly looking for a screenwriter that would keep to the period but remain relevant enough for a modern audience. Few authors fit that bill as well as Jerry Stahl. He's the man behind some of the more controversial episodes of CSI, as well as the wonderful period piece novel I, Fatty and the current production Hemingway & Gellhorn filming for HBO.

The Thin Man follows detective Nick Charles as he’s pulled back into the sleuthing game for one last case. He’s a notorious drunk but still a sharp mind. It’s been a good week for classic mystery adaptations. Just yesterday, we found out the Agatha Christie novel Crooked Window was headed to the big screen. Let’s hope we’re beginning to see a trend.

Though he originally took a hardline stance against doing any more with Captain Jack Sparrow after Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, recently Johnny Depp has seemed more open to the idea. Our sources tell us that they’re still pretty far from a deal, and that a lot of what we’ve been hearing about how close a fifth Pirates movie is to happening may not be as it seems, but there’s definitely at least some level of interest from Depp and a definite level of interest in doing more from Disney.

In fact Disney has just made the first move towards making even more Pirates of the Caribbean movies a reality. Deadline says the studio has just concluded a deal with Terry Rossio, co-writer of all three previous Pirates movies and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, to begin scripting a fifth Pirates adventure. For this new outing Rossio will serve as the only writer on the project, he’ll work without Ted Elliott, his collaborator on the other films.

Word is that Disney is also working to resign On Stranger Tides director Rob Marshall for the next sequel. It’s an interesting move, when you consider that his first stab at directing a Pirates entry, the upcoming fourth movie, is months away from being released. There’s still plenty of room for that film to turn out as an utter disaster. It would seem the studio feels pretty confident about it.

It’s worth noting though that there’s no mention of Rossio writing the sixth movie. Up until now word was that the fifth and sixth movies would be shot back to back, in much the same way Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3 were. Of course they might want to get Johnny Depp on board first, before they take things that far; but if they’re shooting them back to back, you’d think they’d want Rossio writing the two films as one continuous story. This could simply be an omission on the part of the notoriously sketchy Deadline or it could be a sign that Disney’s reconsidering making such a big commitment.

December is my favorite movie month. In addition to seeing the releases of some of the best films of the year, the ones aiming for Oscar glory, the 31 days prior to the new year are peppered with trailers for movies that will likely be the biggest hits of the following year: the summer blockbusters. We saw trailers for both Transformers: Dark Of The Moon and Thor last week, and now we’ve got a little Jack Sparrow for you.

Disney has released the first trailer for the fourth installment in the Disney franchise, known formally as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Directed by Rob Marshall, replacing Gore Verbinski, who directed the first three films, the newest movie in the series sees the return of Johnny Depp as the Keith Richards-esque buccaneer as he and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) go on a search for the fountain of youth. What they don’t know, however, is that the infamous Blackbeard is also going after the treasure.

Check out the trailer below.

Obviously the big hope here is that this movie will be able to get the franchise back on track after two sequels that didn’t really live up to the original. As expected, Johnny Depp is his normal, witty self and just seems at home in Jack Sparrow’s skin. That said, nothing about the trailer really blew me away. Sure, it was nice to see Keith Richards in there, but it all seems a little too busy and the one-liners are more smile-inducing than laugh-inducing. The chemistry between Depp and Penelope Cruz seems fun, with a lot of back and forth (and a nice dose of sexual innuendo at 1:45).

What did you think of the trailer? Will this be the best Pirates of the Caribbean film since The Curse of the Black Pearl? Let me know in the comments section, and for a more detailed look at the Pirates 4 trailer check out more than 80, high-res screencaps here.

Here's another news story about another upcoming blockbuster that will be in 3D, with one tiny twist-- the movie will actually be filmed in 3D too. Disney has announced (via Coming Soon) that they'll be filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 3D this summer, eschewing the option to convert it into 3D after the fact as virtually everyone else is doing.

No idea how director Rob Marshall, who has previously made musicals like Nine and Chicago and has pretty much no experience directing action, will handle this added wrinkle to his production. We just heard a few weeks ago that Disney was drastically cutting the budget on the film, and while 3D cameras will inevitably add extra expense, the studio has clearly done the math and figured that the inflated 3D ticket prices will be worth it. They also may be able to shut up the 3D cynics as well-- after all, who can actually complain about an extra dimension of Jack Sparrow.

Hmmm. Disney may have finally come up with a gambit that makes me interested in a Pirates of the Caribbean 4. According to Variety, Chicago director Rob Marshall is close to signing on as the director for the fourth film, replacing Gore Verbinski, who has moved on to do other things.

I know what you're thinking. "He's going to have Johnny Depp singing and dancing!" "Chicago sucked!" But Marshall's sense of staginess and visual play might work really well in the Pirates franchise, which is really nothing but an excuse to take outlandish characters and put them in crazy situations-- kind of like a musical, really. Plus Marshall will have his best plaything ever with Johnny Depp, whose Captain Jack Sparrow could have killed a number like "Roxie."

Again, not that I think Marshall will turn it into the musical. And it's true, we haven't seen much evidence that he has a sense of action sequences or the giddy fun that marked the franchise at its best. But the very fact that Disney is willing to depart from the formula a bit for the fourth movie, and try something even remotely daring, makes this project 10 times more interesting. Not that it needs to exist, but at least it's making a decent argument for itself.