*Queen Latifah has been cast as Ursula, and Shaggy as Sebastian, in a live concert production of “The Little Mermaid,” set to air on ABC, the network announced Monday.
Actress Auli’i Cravalho has been cast as Ariel in the television the event that will honor the original’s 30th anniversary.
“It’s unlike anything that any other network has done before in terms of a live musical,” ABC Entertainment president Katey Burke said at the Television Critics Association conference on Monday. “It really is a seamless interweaving of live-action musical and performances and the animated film itself.”
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“Fortunately I know a little magic.” ? Excited to be part of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! #Ursula #TheLittleMermaid #TeamSeaWitch pic.twitter.com/83MDd4sLhb
— Queen Latifah (@IAMQUEENLATIFAH) August 5, 2019
Director Hamish Hamilton also explained how “The Little Mermaid Live” will “cut between a broadcast of the 1989 Little Mermaid and Cravalho, Queen Latifah, Shaggy and their castmates performing the musical numbers live,” per avclub.com.
The live musical event will “take viewers on a magical adventure under the sea as live musical performances by a star-studded cast will be interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film,” according to ABC via PEOPLE.
“This never-before-seen hybrid format will feature beautifully intricate sets and costumes, with music from the original animated film and the Tony Award-winning Broadway stage version,” the press release continues.
The news comes as Disney is gearing up for a live-action feature adaptation of the 1989 animated film, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel.
The Wonderful World of Disney presents The Little Mermaid Live! will air Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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