Movies - TV
The Little Mermaid's New Movie Will Modernize Ariel's Relationship With Prince Eric
By JENNA BUSCH
The 1989 film, “The Little Mermaid,” marked a turning point for Disney animation, but the story is somewhat problematic by modern standards. The movie follows Ariel, a teenage mermaid who falls in love with a man she only saw for a few minutes and makes a bargain with the sea witch Ursula to appear human; she must get a “true love’s kiss” in three days or else become the witch’s servant.
While this might not be the best message for young people, Disney has changed the story for the upcoming live-action remake. The star Halle Bailey shared, “What’s beautiful about this version of ‘The Little Mermaid’ is that it’s a lot more modern ... When we saw it when we were younger, she gave up everything for the guy. But I don’t think [that] reflects modern women today.”
She continued, “So [now] it’s more about Ariel finding freedom for herself because of this world that she’s obsessed with. Prince Eric, the handsome shipwrecked human for whom she gives it all up, is a cherry on top. But it’s not all about him.” This alteration isn’t the first time Disney has modernized stories — even the animated version changed the 1837 story by Hans Christian Andersen.