OG Ariel Jodi Benson defends controversial changes in Halle Bailey's 'The Little Mermaid'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Disney's live-action 'The Little Mermaid' is a realistic and enlarged remake of the studio's 1989 animation masterpiece, which starred Jodi Benson in a legendary performance as Princess Ariel. In April, it was revealed that 'Little Mermaid' director Rob Marshall and his team had revised the lyrics to well-known songs including 'Kiss the Girl' and 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' to address issues of consent and more.
In the impending live-action adaptation of 'The Little Mermaid,' Jodi Benson, who performed the voice for Ariel in the 1989 Disney animated feature, defended the new changes made. Halle Bailey plays Ariel in the eagerly awaited adaptation, which has received an array of mixed reviews before its scheduled theatrical debut on May 26.
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'It was a must!'
The 'The Enchanted' actress, 61, spoke candidly to Entertainment Weekly for a piece that was released on Monday, May 22. She defended that the modifications were "a must" and highlighted that they were "done in a beautiful way." She told EW, "We're talking about starting our [voiceover] sessions in '86 [for the original film]. It's 2023, so we have to grow, we have to learn, we have to be aware of our surroundings."
Benson added, "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. We've got to roll with that. I think that Rob and John have done a beautiful job of doing that, and still paying tribute and honor to our original film.
But you've got to have growth. It's very important to stay relevant with where we are, and what's going on around us. We need to be aware. So the adjustments and the fine-tuning that they needed to do, it was a must, but it was done in a beautiful way, and I'm very, very thrilled with it."
'The Little Mermaid' movie by Benson was a significant turning point in cinema history. Marshall, who collaborated with Benson on the stage version of 'Chess' in the 1990s, attributes the revival of cinema musicals to that movie. But over time, it has also drawn criticism. Some people now interpret the tale as one in which a young woman sacrifices everything for a man, even her voice.
Changes in 'Kiss the Girl' and 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'
Changes were made to two of the original tracks for the live-action adaption, which has been in the news for months before its scheduled release on May 26. Marshall, screenwriter David Magee and, producer John DeLuca seemed well aware of the criticisms, so they made certain modifications to their adaptation of 'The Little Mermaid,' which drew inspiration from both the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and the animated classic.
Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, and Ariel, played by Bailey, have a closer bond now. Despite their families' pleas for them to stay at home, both are adamant about leaving their comfort zones and traveling the world. Other changes include a line modification in 'Kiss the Girl' to address the subject of consenting and slight changes to 'Poor Unfortunate Souls.'
Ariel's replacement for Benson, Halle Bailey, told Variety in April that the movie "definitely changed its perspective of just her wanting to leave the ocean for a boy. It’s way bigger than that. It’s about herself, her purpose, her freedom, her life, and what she wants."
Benson is equally as impressed by Bailey's portrayal of Ariel for the modern age. The Disney legend claims that she met Bailey and her mother over several visits and that she initially got in touch with the growing talent through a connection made by an executive producer on the movie.
With just a few days until its premiere, 'The Little Mermaid' has already received conflicting reviews, with some appreciating Bailey's performance while others criticizing the 'unfortunate' adaptation and the 'realistic' depiction of animals. 'Under The Sea,' on the other hand, garnered more praise from Entertainment Weekly, which described it as a "visual feast for the eyes." While describing Halle's portrayal of Ariel, EW stated, "Her Ariel is so radiant that she seems to possess the properties of bioluminescence, absolutely glowing in every scene,"