Can the Little Mermaid break the Disney reboot slump?

When it comes to reboots, feelings are generally mixed. It’s an entirely new level when it’s a Disney property, though.

Fans of the original animated Disney films hold those films in such high esteem. Rightfully so as a lot of us grew up on those films. Whether it was the Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, or Mulan, a lot of us have strong feelings about each and every one.

Despite that, Disney has continued to churn out reboot upon reboot of the classic films but with a twist. Obviously, the twist is that our favorite animated characters are now live-action and the results haven’t always been great.

Regardless, the latest preview released at the 2022 D23 expo gave us some hope for the upcoming The Little Mermaid reboot coming in 2023.

Will the 2023’s The Little Mermaid change the tide for Disney reboots?

Of course, it would only be right to include the preview/short clip that was shared at D23. While it’s not much, it does give us an idea of how the film is going to look and frankly, just how talented Halle Bailey is as a singer. Most of us already knew that, but it’s worth mentioning.

While the clip is toted as a teaser trailer, there isn’t much to go off of. However, I do feel like The Little Mermaid has the potential to be much better than previous entries. Firstly, this film doesn’t seem to be rushed. If anything, it feels like there have been years between the news of the reboot to us actually seeing a clip so there’s more time to actually perfect everything.

Additionally, the cast for the film is incredibly talented. That’s not to say other films weren’t, but looking at the Beauty and the Beast cast, it looked promising. Regardless, we all know that Halle Bailey is a talented singer in her own right and will uphold the mantle of Ariel. No comment on the singing abilities of Emma Watson, though.

If those factors aren’t enough to convenience you, it’s worth mentioning that the bar is pretty low when it comes to Disney reboots. Mostly, Disney’s reboots are either for those who love the original and want to see if Disney will do it justice or for newcomers, looking to fall into an entirely new story/world. Regardless of which camp you’re in, it’s not hard to be disappointed.

Even so, it seems like Disney is taking care to make sure The Little Mermaid is a success for those who loved the animated version and those who haven’t watched the animated classic before. It’s no easy feat, but I have faith in Disney with this one. While the faith in Disney can be misplaced at times, it looks like the company is putting a lot of TLC into this upcoming reboot.

Even if the reboot doesn’t end up meeting expectations though, we can always go to Disney+ and watch the original. Plus there’s also The Little Mermaid series from 1992 if you’re craving some more Ariel adventures. Regardless, I have my fingers crossed that Disney will do Ariel right and this reboot will be a delight.

The Little Mermaid is poised for a May 26th, 2023 theatrical release. 

What do you think of the teaser trailer for The Little Mermaid? Do you have faith in Disney with this new reboot? Be sure to share in the comments.