Earlier in the month, it was reported that Walt Disney Pictures was eyeing alum Rob Marshall (Pirates of The Caribbean 4, Into The Woods, Mary Poppins Returns) to tackle their Little Mermaid live-action adaptation scripted by Jane Goldman (Kingsman, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class).
After Beauty and The Beast dominated the 2017 global box office it was a given they’d fast-track The Little Mermaid.
It’s starting to look like Marshall has indeed signed-on to direct.
Omega Underground has learned that Disney has hired an impressive string of Oscar-winners to their crew lineup for the project, all of which who have previously worked alongside Rob Marshall on other films. Giving us the impression that Marshall will be directing the film.
They include the following.
Oscar-winning Aussie cinematographer Dion Beebe (Collateral, 13 Hours, Edge of Tomorrow) who has consistently worked with Rob over the years on Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Into The Woods, and Mary Poppins Returns.
Four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (Dumbo, Alice In Wonderland, Fantastic Beasts 1-2), who worked with Marshall on Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha.
Two-time Oscar-winning production designer John Myhre (X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men, Elizabeth), who worked with Rob on Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (which featured mermaids), Chicago, Nine, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Mary Poppins Returns.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken will be providing the music for the film, Lin-Manuel took a lead role in Marshall’s upcoming Mary Poppins Returns. It remains to be seen if he’ll also join the cast, although, it seems very likely.
It’s not hard to imagine that stage work could take place at either Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire) or Shepperton Studios (Surrey) in England, given that Marshall shot his Disney films there previously.
Disney has yet to set production or release dates for The Little Mermaid.
SOURCE: OMEGA UNDERGROUND