Disney may be gearing up to start production for a live-action The Little Mermaid movie, but ABC is already prepping for a live musical event special to air this coming November. What's interesting is, they've cast another Disney princess to star as Ariel.
According to The Wrap, ABC will have Auli'I Cravalho playing Ariel in their Little Mermaid musical event. Cravalho will be joined by the likes of Queen Latifah as Ursula and musician Shaggy as Sebastian the Crab.
We don't have an announcement on the other characters yet, but I imagine they're going to get some recognizable faces when it comes to the likes of Scuttle, King Triton, Flounder, and Prince Eric.
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live is also being directed by Hamish Hamilton and will include songs from the original animated movie as well as the Broadway stage version. Disney legend Alan Menken has originally written the music with Howard Ashman, and the event is also said to use lyrics from Glenn Slater from the Broadway version.
With a lot of controversy surrounding the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, I think it's pretty neat that ABC is going to give us something close to that with Cravalho. I also think it's cool that hey cast her, seeing as she did a phenomenal job with Moana. Let's hope she helps ease some fans in when it comes to having a non-white Ariel for once.
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live is set to air on ABC on Nov. 5.
See Also: The Little Mermaid: Melissa McCarthy Addresses Possible Ursula Casting
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