Disney’s 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid is getting not one but two revived adaptations. And with two adaptations, this means we’re getting two versions of the iconic Disney villain Ursula. Rob Marshall’s upcoming live-action theatrical film on The Little Mermaid will see Melissa McCarthy take on the role, while the ABC live production will see Queen Latifah play her. McCarthy has nothing but praise for Queen Latifah’s casting in the role.
“She can do anything,” McCarthy said in an interview with Variety at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday night. “I’ll be like [raises hands] both hands on chin watching her.”
McCarthy is not wrong when she says Queen Latifah can do anything. Aside from earning an Academy Award nomination in 2003 for her performance as Matron “Mama” Morton in the musical Chicago, Queen Latifah is also a Grammy-nominated singer and rapper who paved the may for many women in hip hop. Melissa McCarthy, a fellow Oscar nominee herself, also referenced one of Latifah’s classic songs when asked about her casting.
“‘Ladies First’ — that’s all I’ll say. I love Queen Latifah so much,” McCarthy said, referencing Latifah’s 1989 hit. “I still have the cassette tape of ‘Ladies First.’ Cassette…does that date me?”
Aside from Queen Latifah, ABC’s live concert version of The Little Mermaid will also star Auli’i Cravalho (the voice of Moana) who will play Ariel and Shaggy as Ariel’s crab guardian, Sebastian. The concert will air on ABC on November 5 at 8 p.m.
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Photo: Getty Images/Disney
