Sophia Michaels
Disney’s magical live-action reimagining of “The Little Mermaid” is finally in theaters after much anticipation. The remake, which stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, has been one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, especially after unveiling its sprawling, full-length trailer during the 2023 Oscars. Its cast also includes Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.
Though live-action Disney remakes can sometimes be hit or miss, it seems the new “The Little Mermaid” has something everyone can enjoy (even adults who are fans of the iconic story). From exciting new songs to renditions of classics from the original 1989 movie, the rebooted movie breathes new life into a familiar tale that today’s generation is beginning to fall in love with — especially with Bailey at the forefront.
Bailey’s role as Ariel has been the talk of the town ever since she was cast in the summer of 2019, making her the second-ever Black actor to be crowned a Disney princess (the first, Anika Noni Rose, voiced Tiana in 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog”). Her history-making project has skyrocketed the conversation about representation of Black people in Disney films, and Bailey spoke about carrying that torch with pride in a March interview with POPSUGAR. “It’s about time that a role like this is played by a Black woman, by somebody who is just a part of this beautiful community,” she said. “We deserve to have images that look like us and to see ourselves in the media on big screens and everything. So I’m just grateful that we’re getting to see ourselves finally on such big projects.”
Many moviegoers are already going out in droves to see Bailey’s enchanting film on screen, which debuted worldwide on May 26. But many at home may be wondering when they’ll be able to watch the film from the comfort of their couches, too. Ahead, read everything we know about when “The Little Mermaid” will start streaming.
Will “The Little Mermaid” Hit Streaming?
Disney has not yet made any formal announcements about when “The Little Mermaid” will begin streaming. However, it’s safe to assume it’ll eventually be made available on its platform, Disney+, since it’s already listed there. Per People, the general theatrical release timeline for Disney movies now is roughly 80 to 90 days, a stretch longer than its minimum 45-day window that existed early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many big films these days, “The Little Mermaid” will most likely head to digital first before streaming. So viewers can probably expect to start streaming “The Little Mermaid” on Disney+ sometime around late summer or early fall.
Is the Original “The Little Mermaid” Streaming?
If you’re itching to go back and watch the animated “The Little Mermaid” — which starred Jodi Benson as the voice of Ariel — it’s currently available on Disney+. Additionally, you can stream some of its sequel movies on Disney+, along with ABC’s “The Little Mermaid Live!,” starring “Moana” lead Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel.
