Ursula | The Sea Witch

Melissa McCarthy, 52, used to watch The Little Mermaid endlessly with the kids she once nannied in her 20s in New York prior to becoming an actor. Decades later, the Bridesmaids and Nine Perfect Strangers star found herself exploring other facets to her favorite Disney villain, the half-squid Ursula. Menken confirms a fun fact about the animated character: The drag queen Divine (who McCarthy happened to emulate for a 2011 EW cover story photo shoot) was the inspiration behind the sea witch. In assuming the role, McCarthy says she “100 percent“ used drag as an influence. “There’s a drag queen that lives in me. I’m always right on the verge of going full-time with her,“ she says, having started her career performing as the drag persona Miss Y in Manhattan clubs. The new film refreshes Ursula’s origin story to make the tentacled sorceress the estranged sister of King Triton, a familial twist first introduced in the 2008 Broadway musical version of the animated movie. DeLuca calls Ursula the “black sheep“ of the family, noting the pain that comes with it. “She’s the villain, but there’s such an edge to her,“ McCarthy adds. “She’s been put in this lair. It’s like she’s had too many martinis alone. Her friends are eels. That is a woman who has seen it, been in it, dug her way back out. All my references are terrible, but I kept thinking, ’Many a Pall Mall has this woman had.’“ Having been through isolation at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mistress of comedy jokes she never wants to go that Method for a role ever again: “To keep the humor and the sadness and the edginess to Ursula is everything I want in a character — and frankly, everything I want in a drag queen.“ “Everyone’s seen the trailer, and now you know how good Halle’s gonna be, ’cause she sounds incredible,“ Miranda says of the recording artist’s rendition of “Part of Your World.“ “But no one’s ready for Melissa McCarthy.“ The actress, who admits singing once petrified her, performed Ursula’s signature number, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,“ (now made more famous by a cover by Titus Burgess, . Broadway’s first Sebastian) with an orchestra in London for the cast recording. “She brings all of the delicious camp from the original, but then also is just scary,“ Miranda adds. “If that’s your favorite song, you’re going to be happy.“ #TheLittleMermaid Watch and you’ll see, some day I’ll be, part of your world! Watch the new trailer for #TheLittleMermaid and see the movie in theaters May 26! The brand new soundtrack for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is available now to Pre-Save, Pre-Add or Pre-Order – “The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. 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. 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 film stars singer and actress Halle Bailey (“grown-ish”) as Ariel; Jonah Hauer-King (“A Dog’s Way Home”) as Prince Eric; Tony Award® winner Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as the voice of Sebastian; Awkwafina (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as the voice of Scuttle; Jacob Tremblay (“Luca”) as the voice of Flounder; Noma Dumezweni (“Mary Poppins Returns”) as Queen Selina; Art Malik (“Homeland”) as Sir Grimsby; with Oscar® winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) as King Triton; and two-time Academy Award® nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”) as Ursula. “The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”) with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). The songs feature music from multiple Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin”) and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and new lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The film is produced by two-time Emmy® winner Marc Platt (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” “Grease Live!”), Miranda, two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca (“Tony Bennett: An American Classic”), and Rob Marshall, with Jeffrey Silver (“The Lion King”) serving as executive producer. Hashtag: #TheLittleMermaid Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: