Film News

Disney May Tap Rob Marshall to Helm The Little Mermaid

The live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1989 animated movie will feature new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken.

Editorial Staff
Los Angeles
Disney may have found its The Little Mermaid director in Tony and Oscar nominee Rob Marhsall.
Disney may have found its Little Mermaid director in Tony and Oscar nominee Rob Marhsall.
(© David Gordon)

Tony- and Oscar-nominated director Rob Marshall is reported to be the top contender to claim the director's chair for Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, according to Deadline.

The remake will feature a score by Tony-winning songwriters Alan Menken (Newsies) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and is expected to mix preexisting songs from Disney's 1989 animated classic (written by Menken and fellow Oscar winner Howard Ashman) with new tunes.

Marshall is a six-time Tony nominee and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003 for his adaptation of Chicago, which went on to win Best Picture. Recently he directed the Into the Woods and Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, both for Disney.