Lin-Manuel and The Little Mermaid

[RW3]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:45pm

Well this is unexpected.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Lin-Manuel-Miranda-Alan-Menken-to-Co-Write-Music-for-Live-Action-LITTLE-MERMAID-for-Disney-20160816

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:52pm

Unexpected? I think it's probably one of the most expected things possible at this point. Pretty soon you'll get your Lin Manuel Miranda the coffee cup! The board game!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:55pm

so will Under The Sea be turned into a rap song now?? What part will Lin play?? Sebastian??

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:55pm

Is this awful line the work of BWW?

"Miranda is a huge fan of the Disney undersea fable, even naming his son "Sebastian" after Ariel's crustacean BFF in the musical. "

I'm fairly certain he's never said his son is named after the crab...

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:58pm

WOW! This is great!

[hork]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:58pm

How are they going to sing underwater?

[JennH]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:59pm

Ok I ADORE both these men, and I love Little Mermaid, I'm a HUGE Disnerd anyway, but this I'm not in favor of. I actually didn't know a live action LM was official, but since it is...How in the name of Walt is that supposed to happen live action??

Apart form that...like I said i adore and love both of them SO MUCH...on their own. But their styles are waaaaaayyyyyyyy too different to be working together. Two great artists....two COMPLETELY different stylistic niches. . What is it going to comprise of, a hip hop remix of Under the Sea, PofYW, etc.? yeah not so much...

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:02pm

How are they going to sing underwater?

Ummm...umm... Yeah I got no idea. This sounds about as much of a sh*t show as the stage version.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:05pm

neonlightsxo said: "Is this awful line the work of BWW?

"Miranda is a huge fan of the Disney undersea fable, even naming his son "Sebastian" after Ariel's crustacean BFF in the musical. "

I'm fairly certain he's never said his son is named after the crab..."

It sounds like classic poor BWW reporting. If it makes you cringe and it's on a BWW page, it's almost certainly at the hands of the BWW writer.

Regardless, excited for this. Not really sure what it all means, but they're two great things in and of themselves!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:05pm

 It's just suspension of disbelief. I'm more concerned that they think it needs new songs.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:07pm

This will be mostly shot on a green screen no doubt. Does that even count as "live action?"

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:13pm

 It's just suspension of disbelief. I'm more concerned that they think it needs new songs.

A suspension that's not needed if you kept it in a form it thrived. It's like that new live action Pokemon movie, why? It thrives in an animated form, why are you trying something thatll just look awkward for everyone involved.

As for the songs, it's because you can't get Oscar nods for pre-existing songs. Same reason none of BatB Broadway songs could be in the new movie but they can write new ones in their place taking the exact same function.

[SueBee06]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:14pm

neonlightsxo said: "Is this awful line the work of BWW?

"Miranda is a huge fan of the Disney undersea fable, even naming his son "Sebastian" after Ariel's crustacean BFF in the musical. "

I'm fairly certain he's never said his son is named after the crab...

 

"

He hasn't said that it's the only reason, but he did mention it during press for Moana. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9f4b7af9fc514973891ee288d00a1d80/theres-lots-broadways-lin-manuel-miranda-coming

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:15pm

People are aware that Lin is capable of writing non-rap songs right? Like the multiple non-rap songs in In the Heights and Hamilton?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:18pm

Perhaps they'll do it like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chfIr6aMecs

This was a good 25 years ago and on a TV budget, so I'm sure they can make it even more realistic now.  Not sure that I actually want a live-action version of this perfect animated film, but I guess it's happening anyway, so at least we have a pretty brilliant group of people who care deeply about preserving its legacy working on it.

[JennH]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:20pm

neonlightsxo said: " It's just suspension of disbelief. I'm more concerned that they think it needs new songs.

 

"

I mean, I can take quite a bit of that suspension, most of us here can I'm sure. But this just sounds a bit ridiculous, not I just can't believe it at all.  As for the new songs...well the live B and the B is getting them and it certainly didn't need them. Then again, practically none of the new songs for the LM stage musical were at all memorable. At least the new songs for B and the B on stage all felt like they belonged there and are memorable. I'm also SUPER stoked for B and the B, but those new songs are the only thing that makes me a bit nervous about it. I adore Menken, but I feel he's lost his magic a bit lately. His music is ...ok these days, but yikes Slater's lyrics for him...

 

Updated On: 8/16/16 at 03:20 PM

[Oak2]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:23pm

It's getting a live-action movie because Live-Action Remakes are to Disney in this decade what Direct-to-Video Sequels were in the 90's - a surefire way to make money without having to take any real risks or try something new. I'm an absolutely devoted Disney fan, but I'm also starting to get a little tired of all these live-action remakes, and I agree with the sentiment that it will probably be really weird to do this in live-action.

I am interested to see how Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda's stylings would mix together though, but I don't believe that it will be too difficult. I feel Menken is rather versatile, and I have no doubt he'll be able to mesh well with Miranda. I am a little amused though - I was joking to a friend earlier that once The Mouse grabs you from the stage, everything you do afterwards will be for Him, rather than any more original Broadway works. And sure enough, most of the news we've seen lately about Miranda ever since Moana has been about other Disney projects. Walt has another soldier.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:35pm

I am nervous about the "remixes," but Alan Menken knows what's he doing

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:52pm

All I can really say is "Wepa". My Puerto Rican brother from another mother has his talented hands in everything these days. He has his work cut out for him and I am extremely happy for him. It couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving guy.

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:52pm

I don't think that Lin would be my first, or second, or third (etc.) choice. I hope he does well but this just sounds wrong.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:15pm

Take the money and run.  disappointing

[sydney16]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:22pm

aaaaaa15 said: "People are aware that Lin is capable of writing non-rap songs right? Like the multiple non-rap songs in In the Heights and Hamilton? "

Yes, I actually think he'll do a great job.

Updated On: 8/16/16 at 04:22 PM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:25pm

I bet Sebastian will rap, as that kind of seems mandatory nowadays.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:53pm

Everything is so vague. Is he working on the market six or just the new lyricist?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:55pm

wow this news is shocking and strange to me. I'm confused: will Miranda be writing the lyrics to Menken's music or will he be writing songs separately from Menken? and if the songs are being written separately will Glenn Slater return or will any of the stage version's songs be retained? (most of the stage songs weren't up to Menken's standard in my opinion) i want answers!