Original ‘Little Mermaid’ Star Jodie Benson Was Excited To Appear In New Live-Action Version

Jodi Benson is happy to be acknowledged and back under the sea for the live-action movie of Little Mermaid. In the 1989 animated version of the classic story, Jodi voiced the lead character, Ariel. The actress spoke with Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview about her cameo in Rob Marshall’s live-action remake of the Disney fairytale. “It was a pure joy for me,” Jodi remarked.

Marshall reached out to Jodi, who was happy to accept the offer. “We thought, ‘It is just so perfect to have her in that if it felt like it could be organic and not too stunt-y,’” Marshall said. “It was just a huge thrill for me when Robbie reached out. I’m like, ‘Of course, I’m gonna come! I don’t care what I’m doing. I just can’t wait to get around the set and watch all of you work. It was just pure joy for me,” Jodi told the outlet, recalling her reaction to the offer.

Jodi’s part in the live-action movie was significant

Jodi’s moment in the new movie was with Halle Bailey, who played Ariel. In the scene, Jodi’s character offers Ariel a bowl of food as one of the market vendors. She then offers Ariel a fork, or a dinglehopper, as Scuttle calls it; however, the little mermaid styled her hair with it instead. “It’s literally like passing the torch,” Jodi said in reference to the scene. In the original, the little mermaid voiced by Jodi had done the same with a fork but at Prince Eric’s castle instead— while at dinner.

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Jodi also appreciated Marshall’s tribute to the original version, remarking that it was sensational. “The way that they paid tribute to the integrity of our original film just comes shining through in such a beautiful way. … It really is just breathtaking,” she said.

Jodi highlights the tweaks in the live-action ‘Little Mermaid’

The new Little Mermaid featured new plot lines, new songs, and changes in the lyrics from the original ‘80s version. “When you look at our film, we started in the studio in 1986, and we were released in 1989. Times change, people change, cultures change,” Jodi explained.

“I do feel all of the nuances and small, slight changes here and there are very important. It’s very important to address what’s going on right now in our world and to make it effective for our period of time, where we are right now in this generation,” she added. The Little Mermaid is currently out in theaters.