ABC announced plans for a live musical adaptation of the 1989 animated Disney movie « The Little Mermaid. »
May 16 (UPI) — The Little Mermaid Live! will air on ABC in October.
The network announced plans in a press release Tuesday for a live musical adaptation of the 1989 animated Disney movie.
ABC will adapt The Little Mermaid as a « live action/animation hybrid television experience. » The two-hour special event will premiere Oct. 3.
The original Little Mermaid starred Jodi Benson as the voice of Ariel, with music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The new version will feature songs from the original film, although the cast has yet to be announced.
The Little Mermaid Live! is the first live musical to head to ABC. NBC, which previously staged Peter Pan and Hairspray, will produce live versions of Bye, Bye Birdie and Jesus Christ Superstar, while Fox, which staged Grease, has A Christmas Story and Rent in the works.
ABC’s live adaptation will vary from Disney’s long-rumored live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Variety reported in August that Menken and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will pen the music for Disney’s version.
