Category: Finance | Title: The Little Mermaid Live-Action 2023 Cast and Production Budget Breakdown | Tag: Disney Film | Meta Description: Facts on the 2023 live-action The Little Mermaid cast, budget, box office, and production companies...
Lead Cast and Character Assignments
The 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. Daveed Diggs plays Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay plays Flounder, and Awkwafina voices Scuttle. The film is a Walt Disney Pictures production directed by Rob Marshall. Cast details from Forbes.
Disney confirmed the principal cast between 2019 and 2021. Bailey was cast as Ariel in 2019, Bardem joined as King Triton in 2021, and McCarthy was confirmed as Ursula the same year. The ensemble also includes Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, with supporting roles filled by Art Malik and Martina Laird.
Production, Budget, and Studio Details
The film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Lucamar Productions, with Rob Marshall directing and David Magee writing the screenplay. Filming took place primarily at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, with additional location shooting in Sardinia, Italy. The reported production budget is approximately $250 million, making it one of the higher-cost Disney live-action remakes.
Disney is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, which reported consolidated entertainment studio revenue in its quarterly filings. The film is distributed worldwide by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. For financial context on Disney's studio segment, see the company's public earnings reports on the SEC website.
Release Dates, Box Office, and Distribution
The Little Mermaid premiered in Los Angeles on May 8, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on May 26, 2023. Internationally, the film rolled out across multiple markets in late May and June 2023, with streaming availability on Disney+ following the theatrical window. The film is rated PG for musical action and peril.
According to box office tracking sources, the film earned over $295 million worldwide during its theatrical run, combining domestic and international grosses. Disney's distribution strategy included both traditional theatrical release and day-and-date streaming on Disney+ with Premier Access in select markets. For broader box office data and market comparisons, see Box Office Mojo.