Disney's Live Action The Little Mermaid

[Tha Realest]

I guess here is the straight up question that should have been asked a while ago.

Do people think Disney should have cast someone else for the role of Ariel JUST so it could make more money in certain overseas markets?

No. But when casting an unknown in the role, perhaps Disney should have considered that while setting the budget.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Change…unfortunately…takes time. If it feels “forced”…you defeat yourself.

But my belief here is I think Disney is not “arrow up” and that affects box office as well. They are struggling mightily in the public/world eye…it’s a drag.

I also think nobody wanted this and maybe the gimmick is wearing off?

There is no doubt the live action remakes have been met with resistance and some justifiable criticism.

There is also no doubt the criticism against this one in particular is “extra,” and has a racial component unless you’ve been living under the sea and missing all the blatantly racist comments all over the internet.

Two things at the same time. One does not diminish or mitigate the other.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No. But when casting an unknown in the role, perhaps Disney should have considered that while setting the budget.

COVID! COVID!! COVID!!!

…now that that’s out of the way…

I think they should have not used the old characters/stories…told a “related” story with different take/nuance.

It’s one thing to diversify/inclusion for appeal. I totally get that. But this seems to play as a “replacement”…like a certain log flume that’s controversial. And that’s where any grievance gets heightened.

Bring people in without suggesting the original was “wrong”…and that maybe how it’s perceived.

Not the first time Disney has stubbed on this in recent years. Star Wars…the Aladdin casting…they keep hammering away at a brick wall

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There is no doubt the live action remakes have been met with resistance and some justifiable criticism.

There is also no doubt the criticism against this one in particular is “extra,” and has a racial component unless you’ve been living under the sea and missing all the blatantly racist comments all over the internet.

Two things at the same time. One does not diminish or mitigate the other.

I think that’s fair. There are multiple elements here.

I’m just not interested in blanket corporate excuses.
Disney is getting quite good at them. You know why?
They have to make a lot of them these days

 

[Jedijax719]

I think that’s fair. There are multiple elements here.

I’m just not interested in blanket corporate excuses.
Disney is getting quite good at them. You know why?
They have to make a lot of them these days

What blanket corporate excuses is Disney making? And excuses for what? I have a hard time understanding what you mean by that. Is for the failure in foreign markets? And what would have helped that?

 

[TalkingHead]

Was someone saying he was Black?

No, the question was has there been a Black prince in a Disney film. It’s a little odd that they have steered clear of making a Black man the love interest in any of these movies (at least none are coming to mind).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What blanket corporate excuses is Disney making? And excuses for what? I have a hard time understanding what you mean by that. Is for the failure in foreign markets? And what would have helped that?

If they’re pushing the racist angle…then that is a blanket corporate excuse and typical of Igerianism.

Remember they said Solo Flopped because “the Audience couldn’t handle that much Star Wars”
Not because it was in a stream of crap.

Here’s what seems to be the deal with mermaid:
1. Not compelling/different enough to create positive buzz/word of mouth to push box office.
2. Not reading the market right
3. Live action remake fatigue
4. Corporate headwinds
5. Budget out of control (rob Marshall signature)
6. Racism spoiling the narrative

It’s ALL those things

And it’s not “foreign markets” killing then. It didn’t do well in North America either

 

[DKampy]

If they’re pushing the racist angle…

When did Disney release a statement saying anyone who did not like TLM was racist… I must of missed it, because I don’t recall such a statement

 

[Jedijax719]

If they’re pushing the racist angle…then that is a blanket corporate excuse and typical of Igerianism.

Remember they said Solo Flopped because “the Audience couldn’t handle that much Star Wars”
Not because it was in a stream of crap.

Here’s what seems to be the deal with mermaid:
1. Not compelling/different enough to create positive buzz/word of mouth to push box office.
2. Not reading the market right
3. Live action remake fatigue
4. Corporate headwinds
5. Budget out of control (rob Marshall signature)
6. Racism spoiling the narrative

It’s ALL those things

And it’s not “foreign markets” killing then. It didn’t do well in North America either

#1: 95% verified audience on RT. It is liked by most people who have seen it. So WOM has helped.
#2: What does that even mean without addressing my original question?
#3: It is doing quite well in North America. It will pass $300 million. So-wrong information.
#4: Huh? If you mean things like inflation and a bad economy, then that isn't Disney or any other studio's fault.
#5: The budget was $70 million more than Aladdin, possibly matched or a little over BatB's budget, and right about the same as Lion King's budget. The movie will lose over $500-$600 million overseas. A lower budget does not cover that loss. Not even close.
#6: What does that even mean?

Back to the question I asked. Do you think that Disney should have cast differently in order to make more money overseas? Straight answer.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Aladdin, now THAT was a good live action remake and it happen to make money! Over 1B worldwide!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

#1: 95% verified audience on RT. It is liked by most people who have seen it. So WOM has helped.
#2: What does that even mean without addressing my original question?
#3: It is doing quite well in North America. It will pass $300 million. So-wrong information.
#4: Huh? If you mean things like inflation and a bad economy, then that isn't Disney or any other studio's fault.
#5: The budget was $70 million more than Aladdin, possibly matched or a little over BatB's budget, and right about the same as Lion King's budget. The movie will lose over $500-$600 million overseas. A lower budget does not cover that loss. Not even close.
#6: What does that even mean?

Back to the question I asked. Do you think that Disney should have cast differently in order to make more money overseas? Straight answer.

We’re not having a discussion here. You’re ticked and me and I never blame anyone for that. On me…

…but you’re just taking any view that the movie isn’t great and saying “what does that mean?”

That’s disingenuous and doesn’t bear out with the returns to this point.

It’s not gonna cover. It is what it is and that’s what it is.

Now we can move on.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

When did Disney release a statement saying anyone who did not like TLM was racist… I must of missed it, because I don’t recall such a statement

I didn’t say they did…I said “if”

But a bunch of articles about racism in Korea, China did drop yesterday. Is there one from the Hollywood reporter? Social experiment.

But please..SBJ, please?…tell me you’re not suggesting that only press releases are what Disney thinks? The truth is gonna be very elusive if it stops at that.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Do you think that Disney should have cast differently in order to make more money overseas? Straight answer.

Depends on if we’re talking from a business or ethical perspective.

Disney had to have known it would be controversial, they probably even had board meetings discussing how much it would hurt/help box office, and they did it anyway, so clearly they felt it was worth it. It’s their business so ultimately that’s all that really matters.

That’s a nice benefit of being a multi billion dollar multinational company, they have freedom, a mom and pop struggling to survive may have looked purely at the potential for lost revenue and chose otherwise though.

Neither is technically right or wrong. Businesses need to stay alive which means picking which battles to fight.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m Gonna unwatch/disengage from this one. I appreciate the discussion…but kindly ask for no quotes/likes. Thank you.

 

[LittleBuford]

Aladdin, now THAT was a good live action remake and it happen to make money! Over 1B worldwide!

I much preferred the remake of The Little Mermaid. How much money they made relative to one another really doesn’t matter to me.

 

[DKampy]

I much preferred the remake of The Little Mermaid. How much money they made relative to one another really doesn’t matter to me.

Nor should you… the profit of a movie has no bearing on how good a movie is… I have seen movies I could not stand making barrels of cash as well as seen movies I adore make close to nothing

 

[Andrew C]

Nor should you… the profit of a movie has no bearing on how good a movie is… I have seen movies I could not stand making barrels of cash as well as seen movies I adore make close to nothing

Unfortunately for Disney, they cannot really think like an individual fan...

 

[LittleBuford]

Nor should you… the profit of a movie has no bearing on how good a movie is… I have seen movies I could not stand making barrels of cash as well as seen movies I adore make close to nothing

It’s strange to me that this thread has become almost obsessively focused on box-office takings. There’s so much more to talk about.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It’s strange to me that this thread has become almost obsessively focused on box-office takings. There’s so much more to talk about.

Everything else gets purged

 

[LittleBuford]

Everything else gets purged

I don’t agree. We can discuss the film without getting political, as some of us have more than once attempted.