Synopsis
Inspired by the 1837 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale rather than the 1989 Disney movie, this fantasy-adventure film follows a young girl who discovers a beautiful, enchanting woman she believes to be the real “Little Mermaid” of lore. William Moseley (“The Royals”) stars as Cam Harrison, a young reporter following a big story about a Mermaid, Poppy Drayton (“Downton Abbey”), and a magic healing water said to cure all. Together with his sick niece Elle, Loreto Peralta (“Instructions Not Included”), they travel to a small town in Mississippi and uncover a legend that’s as mysterious as the circus they find it in. The film also includes Academy Award Winner Shirley MacLaine, (“The Last Word,”) Gina Gershon, (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) and Armando Gutierrez, (“Walt Before Mickey.”)
Interviews
Recently I had the privilege of speaking with the cast and directors as well as producers from “The Little Mermaid”, I was also able to screen the film in advance. The film is full of magic and wonder, and as an adult we have to see the film through the eyes of our children. That is something that the cast as well as the producers and directors kept reiterating, that this is a great family fun filled movie.
Script Ideas
There has been a bit on confusion as many thought this movie had anything to do with “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”, I can assure you that the movie is far beyond anything related to Disney. During our interview Blake Harris director of the film how this idea of a script for the movie came to be. Blake Harris “I always loved kind of telling these big inspirational stories where you know that the eve of the world the needs of the world just looking at it from a kid’s point of view what kind of adventure you could go on if you meet something that is you know something that you believe to not exist but yet it really does. And that was kind of the beginning point. I think that was the part that a lot of people kind of rallied around and you know the fact that there aren’t a lot of family films outside of Disney and outside of the big superhero movies like Will was talking about earlier you know. So it was kind of right time right place and things just kind of all came together.”
William Moseley
William has been in a couple of different films and TV. Shows however you may know him from the Chronicles of Narnia franchise. As well as the hit show “The Royals” ,one of the questions we asked William was how he decided to take on the role of Cam. William Moseley “I read the script and instantly I knew. I was fortunate enough that I started my career with the Chronicles of Narnia franchise and I felt that the story had a lot of similarity in the fact that it’s a little girl with her belief in this mermaid. And you know there was these magical elements to it and you know I felt there were dynamics and there were story elements that were very similar that I had that I felt that I could play. And so I called my manager and I said I really want to do this. We want to be a part of the story. Rob and Blake then brought me onto the film and I think the script speaks for itself. We all fell in love with it and that was really Blake’s vision and on his story that has made this film what it is.”
Poppy Drayton
Poppy has been in a couple of different TV shows and you probably recognize her from the “The Shannara Chronicles”. One of the questions that we asked Poppy was how she prepared for her role in the film. We were all surprised at the fact that there was no CGI in the film and that her mermaid tail was actually made by hand, the tail was also very heavy when placed in the water. Poppy Drayton “I thank my local pool. Every day for two months before I started because I wanted to get really, really proficient at something and I was okay beforehand and typically wasn’t great. But I then got really, really good. And I would go up and down for hours just like a mermaid would.”
Takeaways from the Film
Blake Harris”Just allow your inner child to believe and to play and to get swept up in the wind of it because I think as adults we get led by our brains. We’re always thinking and we’re always processing and we’re always analyzing and with the pace of life is so quick and you don’t really stop and just play and just allow yourself to believe in things that aren’t real you think aren’t real. You just we intellectualize too much instead of just. Keeping ourselves open to lots possibility.” Having seen the film with my six year old and three year old I loved seeing their faces light up watching this film, the awe and wonder of them believing that mermaids could really exist and that dreams can come true was something very inspiring from the film.
The Red Carpet
The red carpet for the film was truly spectacular, it was a very intimate setting at the newly remodeled Tampa Theater in Downtown Tampa. Some mermaids from weeki wachee springs joined the cast on crew on the carpet. Weeki Wachee is where some of the scenes were filmed for “The Little Mermaid” although, most of the movie was filmed in Savannah, Georgia.
RELEASE DATE
Theatrical Release date: August 17, 2018, exclusively at AMC Theaters
FOLLOW ALONG
Official website: http://thelittlemermaid.tv/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5493944/?ref_=nm_knf_t3
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittlemermaidmovie
Twitter: #TheLittleMermaid
AMC THEATERS WHERE THE LITTLE MERMAID WILL BE SHOWING
Alabama
Mobile 16–Mobile
Arizona
Ahwatukee 24–Pheonix
Arizona Center 24– Pheonix
Desert Ridge 18– Pheonix
Westgate 20– Glendale
California
Citywalk Stadium 19–Universitry City
Covina 17– Covina
Del Amo 18– Torrance
Rolling Hills 20–Torrance
Fullerton 20– Fullerton
Norwalk 20– Norwalk
Ontario Mills 30– Ontario
Orange 30– Orange
Promenade 16– Woodland Hills
Puente Hills 20– City of Industry
Manteca 16– Manteca
Deer Valley Stadium 16– Antioch
Colorado
Highlands Ranch 24– Highlands Ranch
Westminster Promenade 24– Westminster
Connecticut
Plainville 20– Plainville
Florida
Altamonte Mall 18– Altamonte Springs
Disney Springs 24– Lake Buena Vista
Universal Cineplex 20– Orlando
Tallahassee 20– Tallahassee
Bradenton 20– Bradenton
Highwoods 20– Tampa
Veterans Expressway 24– Tampa
Regency-bdn 20– Brandon
Sundial 20– St.Petersburg
CityPlace 20– West Palm Beach
Woodlands Square 20–Oldsmar
Aventura Mall 24– Aventura
Hialeah 12– Hialeah
Pompano Beach 18–Pompano Beach
Indian River 24– Vero Beach
Merchants Crossing 16– Fort Myers
Regency Jax 24– Jacksonville
Georgia
Columbus 15– Columbus
Southlake Pavilion 24–Morrow
Sugarloaf Mills 18– Lawrenceville
Illinois
Woodridge 18– Woodridge
Rockford 16– Rockford
Indiana
Schererville 16– Indiana
Fort Wayne 20– Fort Wayne
Perry Crossing 18– Plainfied
Kansas
Studio 28– Olathe
Kentucky
Stonybrook 20–Louisville
Lousiana
Baton Rouge 16– Baton Rouge
Mall Of Louisiana 15– Baton Rouge
Massachusetts
Liberty Tree Mall 20–Danvers
Michigan
Forum 30– Sterling Heights
Great Lakes 25–Auburn Hills
Missouri
Barrywoods 24
Independence 20
New Jersey
Hamilton 24– Hamilton Township
New York
Empire 25– New York City
North Carolina
Carolina Pavilion 22– Charlotte
Concord Mills 24– Concord
Hickory 15– Hickory
Greensboro 18– Greensborro
Raleigh 15–Raleigh
Ohio
Lennox 24
Oklahoma
Southroads 20– Tulsa
Quail Springs Mall 24– Oklahoma City
Pennsylvania
Neshaminy 24–Bensalem
Waterfront 22– Homestead
Tennessee
Chattanooga 18– Chattanooga
Texas
Deerbrook 24– Humble
First Colony 24– Sugar land
Gulf Pointe 30– Houston
Studio 30 – Houston
Willowbrook 24– Houston
Grapevine Mills 30– Grapevine
Mesquite 30– Mesquite
Virginia
Hoffman 22– Alexandria
Washington
River Park Square 20– Spokane
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