Melissa McCarthy to swim as Ursula for live-action The Little Mermaid

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

As part of Disney's neverending quest to adapt every classic in their animated library, the House of Mouse has announced that Melissa McCarthy is in early talks to play Ursula, the sinister and sultry, body-positive sea witch of THE LITTLE MERMAID fame for a live-action adaptation.

According to Variety, who exclusively broke the news about Disney looking to hook McCarthy for the role, the House of Mouse is "looking to make contemporary and compelling casting choices, while still paying homage to the beloved animated original."

Set to direct the live-action under the sea adventure is MARY POPPINS RETURNS helmer Rob Marshall, whose version will include beloved songs from directors Ron Clements and John Musker's 1989 animation as well as new tunes from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda that are sure to convey that everything is better down where it's wetter.

Take it from me, this is sure to be a bonafide smash for Disney, especially with Miranda on board to produce alongside Marshall, Marc Platt and John DeLuca. Meanwhile, David Magee will pen the script with Jessica Virtue and Allison Erlikhman overseeing for the studio that will one day lord over the entire entertainment spectrum.

Loosely based on the Danish fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID shares the tale of a mermaid princess who makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.

Throughout the years, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID has been adapted into stage plays, ice spectaculars, spirited parades, video games, dark novellas, horror-inspired feature films, and just about anything else you can think of. With McCarthy now gearing up for the role of Ursula, it's only a matter of time before we learn who will play the parts of Princess Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle, King Triton, and of course, Ursula's diabolical eels, Flotsam & Jetsam. Let the dream castings begin!