The classic Disney animated movie “The Little Mermaid” is getting a live-action remake, which fans all over the world are very excited about. The classic story will be told in a new way in the upcoming movie, which will have a star-studded cast and new musical numbers. The first movie came out in 1989.
It’s about a young mermaid named Ariel who wants to live on land and fall in love with a human prince. The new movie will again be about her journey, but it will be told in a new way. With talented people like director Rob Marshall and composer Alan Menken working on it, this much-anticipated adaptation looks like it will be a magical time for people of all ages.
Disney’s Little Mermaid Remake
The Little Mermaid, a movie from Disney, will be the studio’s longest live-action remake/adaptation, according to a new listing from AMC Theaters. According to reports, the underwater epic lasts 135 minutes, which is one minute longer than the previous record-holder, 2021’s Cruella.
The 1989 original was only 83 minutes long, so this 135-minute mark is noticeably longer. Cruella is technically not a remake of a beloved animated film, but it is still regarded as an adaptation and is included on this list. The complete list of live-action Disney remakes and adaptations, along with their durations, is provided below:
- The Jungle Book (2016) – 1 hour and 46 minutes
- Beauty and the Beast (2017) – 2 hours and 9 minutes
- Dumbo (2019) – 1 hour and 52 minutes
- Aladdin (2019) – 2 hours and 8 minutes
- The Lion King (2019) – 1 hour and 58 minutes
- Mulan (2020) – 1 hour and 55 minutes
- Cruella (2021) – 2 hours and 14 minutes
- Pinocchio (2022) – 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why is the Little Mermaid So Long?
While 2 hours and 15 minutes may seem excessive, especially when compared to the animated original’s runtime, it appears to be the standard for Disney and its live-action remakes. With the exception of Pinocchio (which was created specifically for Disney+ streaming), all of Disney’s remakes have clocked in at or close to that two-hour mark.
Given that The Little Mermaid is almost an hour longer than the 1989 original, it will be interesting to see what it accomplishes with all that extra time. In this movie, the journey of Ariel has been explored in great detail, including a brand-new musical number. Furthermore, if Halle Bailey’s Ariel has more to do in the movie, the rest of the talented cast must also have more to do.
That, along with the other two songs by Alan Menken and Lin Manuel Miranda, make it clear why this live-action remake will take as long as it does. Beginning on May 26, The Little Mermaid will be screened in theaters.
