Melissa McCarthy is set to appear as Ursula in Disney‘s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. In an interview with People Magazine, McCarthy recounted the crazy experience of playing the iconic character.
How did Melissa McCarthy feel about playing Ursula in The Little Mermaid?
When asked what it was like to play Ursula, McCarthy said that it took time to “digest” she was getting the opportunity. It was something even her family couldn’t comprehend until they saw the movie.
“I think it took quite a while for me to kind of digest that,” McCarthy said. “Like, I was actually going to get to play Ursula, which seemed like a fever dream. My girls were a little like, ‘What does that mean?’ And I was like, ‘It means I’m gonna play her.’ And they’re like, ‘In what way?’ We all went to see it about three weeks ago and my kids at the end turned around. They were like, ‘Okay, that’s what you meant.’ “
McCarthy also discussed the process of becoming a Disney villain, and the “extremes” of a character like Ursula.
“[Ursula] is just bigger than life,” said McCarthy. “So then to kind of have to live with her for that long and really think about, like, what is she afraid of? What is she insecure about? By the end, I really fell in love with her in such a different way.”
Ron Clements and John Musker‘s original The Little Mermaid made over $211 million at the box office and became a bestseller on home video. Its massive success immortalized songs like “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World” for years to come. The upcoming film is based on both the Hans Christian Andersen story and Disney’s 1989 animated adaptation.
“The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric,” says the synopsis. “While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life — and her father’s crown — in jeopardy.”
The Little Mermaid is set to premiere on May 26, 2023.
