Lin-Manuel Miranda gives update on Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid

Devan Coggan
Little Mermaid: Lin-Manuel Miranda gives update on Disney live-action film

It’s no secret that Lin-Manuel Miranda is a big, big fan of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. (The Hamilton star and creator even named his son Sebastian partly because of the 1989 film.) So, it came as no surprise when Disney tapped Miranda and original composer Alan Menken to work on the studio’s upcoming live-action Little Mermaid movie.

Now, as Miranda is busy doing press for the upcoming Moana — his first Disney movie — he gave a little update on the status of The Little Mermaid.

“We’re in super-early talks — I literally don’t have a title for what my job on The Little Mermaid is yet,” Miranda told Vulture. “Right now, it’s the guy who wears the ‘don’t mess it up’ hat. If I could sign a contract with that job title on it, that would be great! But that’s sort of where we are.”

Miranda added that although he’s feeling “intimidated,” he’s happy to be involved in literally any capacity. Previously, it was reported that he would serve as a producer alongside Marc Platt.

“If this requires new music, I’m here for that, and if this requires me weighing in on who makes this thing, I’m here for that,” he said. “If this requires me just saying, ‘That doesn’t look like it’s underwater, I’m even here for that! It’s going to be a huge challenge to not make it feel uncanny valley-ish.”

And when Vulture asked him if he’d consider playing a role in the film, Miranda didn’t exactly say yes — although he didn’t exactly rule it out, either.

“I’m such a fan that I can’t picture where I’d fit into that universe,” he said. “But no matter what, I’m here for the ride.”

In addition to The Little Mermaid, Miranda co-wrote the music for Moana (out Nov. 23) with composer Mark Mancina and New Zealand artist Opetaia Foa’i, and he’s starring alongside Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns. He also told Vulture that he’s planning a brand-new, top-secret animated film with Zootopia co-director Byron Howard, although he cautions that it could be years before that makes it to the big screen.