Look at this trove, treasures untold. How many versions of The Little Mermaid can one megacorporation hold? At the Television Critics Association press tour today, ABC announced that it is planning to stage a live concert version of Disney’s animated classic The Little Mermaid, not to be confused, of course, with the film studio’s upcoming live-action version starring Halle Bailey. With the absurdly long title The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!, ABC’s production will star Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah as Urusula, and Shaggy as Sebastian (sure!). The live performances will somehow be “interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film” throughout the special, which will also include “intricate sets and costumes” and music from both the movie and the less-successful Broadway stage production (they’d better include the “If Only” quartet). The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will air — or maybe the better word is “water” — on ABC on November 5 at 8 p.m.
