The Little Mermaid’s opinionated little crab known as Sebastian has just gotten his first look revealed from the upcoming live-action adaptation ofDisney’s classic film. For those concerned, there’s no need to worry. He’s definitely a crab.
Boasting arguably the most belovedcharacter named Sebastian outside ofParks and Recreation,The Little Mermaidcaught the attention of many whenDisneyannounced a live-action retelling of its beloved animated feature. While it’s unknown how much the film will deviate from its origins (though the plot itself appears intact), a few aspects are pretty safe to confirm. The main character is a young mermaid named Ariel, the villain is a squid lady named Ursula, and it’s got a crab named Sebastian. Now eager fans can finally get a sneak peek at that quirky crustacean. It’s thanks to, of all things, a puzzle.
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As shown in a post from Disney fan Twitter account@mmdisney200, the look at Sebastian comes from a tie-in jigsaw puzzle based onThe Little Mermaidremake. The finished image features stylized versions of Ariel and Sebastian, among other sea creatures. But the real story comes from, oddly enough, the box. Along with a preview of the completed puzzle, it also features what appears to be a promotional shot of the little guy as he’ll be seen inThe Little Mermaidmovie.
Far from the cartoony version of Sebastian seen inDisney’s originalTheLittle Mermaid, this one looks like the animators and artists are going for a more realistic interpretation to fit the live-action aspect. Sebastian looks like a realistic crab, but he’s also as red as a steamed lobster and features just the hint of a mouth beneath his stalk-like eyes. Seemingly keeping with Disney’s trend of keeping things more grounded for its live-action remakes, this take on the character will probably need to use a different approach to his dancing style during “Under The Sea.”
The live-action version will star Halle Bailey as Ariel, playing a role that has already inspiredheartwarming reactions from little girls who loveThe Little Mermaid. Based on the previous previews and trailers, she’s got a pretty spot-on look for the character. But she’ll also be joined by Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula, who got her own sneak peek in a recent trailer. Aside from them, Sebastian will be voiced by Daveed Diggs, and Ariel’s other friends, Flounder the fish and Scuttle the seagull, feature the vocal talents of Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina, respectively. Finally, Jonah Hauer-King and Javier Bardem round things out on the live-action front as they play love interest Prince Eric and Ariel’s intimidating father, King Triton, respectively.
The Little Mermaidremake looks promising, and fans will surely flock to it, despite the unfortunateracial discrimination and hate Bailey has been facing. But she’s proven that she’s strong, and there are tons of folks who have her back against the mindless vitriol. So here’s hoping those venomous voices are silenced when they see the film.
The Little Mermaidis set to release in U.S. theaters on May 26th, 2023.
