‘The Little Mermaid’ First Reactions Praise Halle Bailey’s ‘Astonishing’ Ariel, Question if Remake Lives Up to Animated Original

Actress Halle Bailey and Darryl Dwayne “DDG” Grandberry Jr. first met through their respective careers.

 features a few tweaks to the story's iconic story and music, but a familiar voice vows that the changes are not only necessary but «beautifully» done.Jodi Benson, the voice actress who provided the voice of Ariel in the 1989 animated film, shared her support for the film's changes during an interview with , pointing out how different the world was when the original movie began recording sessions in 1986. «It's 2023, so we have to grow, we have to learn, we have to be aware of our surroundings,» she says. «We've got to be aware of our growth as humans and what's important now and what maybe isn't as important. Things change.

 features a few tweaks to the story's iconic story and music, but a familiar voice vows that the changes are not only necessary but «beautifully» done.Jodi Benson, the voice actress who provided the voice of Ariel in the 1989 animated film, shared her support for the film's changes during an interview with , pointing out how different the world was when the original movie began recording sessions in 1986. «It's 2023, so we have to grow, we have to learn, we have to be aware of our surroundings,» she says. «We've got to be aware of our growth as humans and what's important now and what maybe isn't as important. Things change.

The Little Mermaid star is venturing away from home for the very first time. In her , the 23-year-old singer and actor shared that she moved into her first solo apartment after returning to Los Angeles from London, where she'd been filming the Disney live-action remake. After relocating from Georgia to California with her family in 2012, Halle recently took an important baby step toward independence by moving into a place of her own…in the same building as her 24-year-old sister “It’s nice because we’re neighbors and she’s always there when I need her, but we have our own space,” Halle told Glamour.

Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” — the highly anticipated and revamped musical starring Halle Bailey — is finally here to take us back under the sea. The music by Oscar-winner Alan Menken that made the first one a hit is also back, but these songs have been rewritten for the live version with help from Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Ryan Seacrest has already booked a return to daytime as a guest on . Seacrest will appear on Thursday's episode for the first time since exiting the series last month. The 48-year-old media mogul previously co-hostedwith Kelly Ripa for nearly six years.

Beyoncé may be on her  world tour, but that didn't stop her from making sure her children -- Blue Ivy Carter, 11, and Sir and Rumi, 4 -- were treated to a special surprise!On Monday, Bey's mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, took to Instagram to share that she and her grandchildren were in attendance for the London premiere of Disney's live-action remake of Sharing a photo of herself from the event, Knowles-Lawson wrote, «At the premiere in London last night. Didn't get to go on the real beach red carpet last night, because I had my grand children but the carpet was so enchanting it looked like a beach.

Halle Bailey delivered a mesmerizing performance of “Part of your World” as she sang “The Little Mermaid” track live for the first time post-production.

Ariel and Prince Eric have reunited!

Jonah Hauer-King is the latest actor to become a Disney Prince, but he faced stiff competition for the part!

“The Little Mermaid”The Dolby Theatre, HollywoodUnder the sea and back to Hollywood in a whole new way! At the world premiere of Walt Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” a crowd of excited fans helped make the atmosphere electric, cheering on the stars and their friends who walked the blue carpet. Adorned with shimmering seashell decorations and with the sounds of Caribbean music filling the air, the joyful feeling immersed everyone in the world of the film.“The Little Mermaid” herself, Halle Bailey, wowed in a shimmery sea-blue gown that evoked Ariel, while Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Art Malik, Awkwafina and director Rob Marshall gathered for the celebration. TheWrap caught up with Melissa McCarthy (who plays the much-loved musical’s iconic octopus villain Ursula), to discuss the backlash that African-American star Bailey experienced when cast as Ariel, who is white in the animated classic.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Halle Bailey revealed in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times that original princess Ariel voice actor Jodie Benson has a cameo appearance in Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” remake. Benson appears in a scene set on land, so, alas, she’s not back as a mermaid. However, the cameo meant the two Ariel actors got a chance to meet on the set of the live-action movie. Bailey said she was grateful to have Benson’s blessing. “She told me how proud she was of me and how I’m handling everything, and encouraged me to just go for it,” Bailey said of Benson. “I appreciate her for being so warm and welcoming to me because she’s the GOAT, and it was important to me to get her stamp of approval.”

addressed the backlash that has spread across the Internet about his character’s appearance.Jacob Tremblay defended Flounder’s portrayal at the world premiere of the movie in Los Angeles on Monday, saying that it “works out perfectly.”“I was shown the design when I went in for the audition and I saw the movie last night and, I have to say that I think it really, really worked,” the 16-year-old actor told People. “I think that they were geniuses and they knew exactly what they were doing.”“And I think it works out perfectly.

Jacob Tremblay is opening up about the criticism over Flounder in the live action The Little Mermaid movie.

Jacob Tremblay is a fan of Flounder’s new design despite online criticism.

continues and to give fans a sneak peek at what's to come, Entertainment Tonight is exclusively debuting a first look at an iconic musical number from the live-action reimagining.In ET's clip, Halle Bailey's Ariel recalls her brief foray to the surface world to a disbelieving Sebastian, voiced by Daveed Diggs. While the gushing mermaid waxes poetic about how the ship she saw «rolled on the winds and filled the sky with fire,» the talking crustacean isn't moved.«OK, listen to me.

Part of her world! Halle Bailey was an under-the-sea vision at The Little Mermaid premiere on Monday, May 8.   

Offset and his daughters looked like royalty as they stepped out for a daddy-daughter date night at the Los Angeles premiere of  on Monday. The Migos rapper walked the blue carpet hand-in-hand with Kalea, 8, and Kulture, 5 at the Dolby Theatre, with the trio all sporting coordinating black-and-white ensembles. For his part, Offset channeled Prince Eric with a structured white jacket and black pants.

#TheLittleMermaid: Charming, but incredibly spotty. Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy & Javier Bardem put their heart & souls into a film that can’t escape its animated legacy. Best when it leans into campy bonkers, yet limits its fantasy elements for no reason.

The world premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid live-action remake just took place and the first reactions from critics have been revealed.