During an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, actor and singer Jodi Benson shared her thoughts on the updates made to Disney’s upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid. While Benson voiced the original Ariel in the animated classic, star Halle Bailey is tackling the role of the mermaid princess for the upcoming live-action version, which releases this Friday.
As noted by the outlet, Disney’s live-action version makes changes to the 1989 tale offering fans of the movie new tunes and storylines in addition to the iconic tunes (with some minor lyric adjustments) already featured in the animated musical.
Benson told PEOPLE, “When you look at our film, we started in the studio in 1986 and we were released in 1989. Times change, people change, cultures change. What matters and what is important changes. And, as a studio, we need to make those adjustments, and we need to take into consideration what’s going on around us. We need to be aware.”
The star went on to say, “I do feel all of the nuances and small, slight changes here and there are very important. It’s very important to address what’s going on right now in our world and to make it effective for our period of time, where we are right now in this generation.”
Jodi Benson Stated That Disney’s Live-Action Little Mermaid Goes More “In Depth” Than the Animated Tale
Benson went on to state that she found it “wonderful” to see all the new additions and the tweaks, adding that the live-action version goes more “in depth” with the characters and “expands” on the story in a way that couldn’t have been done in the animated version.
Still, even with all the updates, the actor noted that director Rob Marshall’s version of The Little Mermaid honors its predecessor. She said, “The way that they paid tribute to the integrity of our original film just comes shining through in such a beautiful way. … It really is just breathtaking.”
Since playing Ariel in the 1989 Disney movie, Benson has continued to voice the character for other Disney storylines. The actor stated that she still feels “connected” to Ariel, saying that it felt “kind of like we’re one and the same.”
Benson added, “I’m very protective of her, and there’s just only a handful of us that are still at the company that were involved with our original film. I’m very protective of [Ariel], and I do feel that these changes that have occurred, especially with the live-action telling, are really important. Her integrity has been maintained. It’s really a special retelling, and I’m just so thrilled.”
It’s clear that Benson’s more than happy to pass the torch to Bailey, with the former praising the Grown-ish star’s performance in the upcoming film. Benson said, “Halle’s interpretation of Ariel is absolutely beautiful. I loved everything that she did with the film. I love the acting, I love the singing and just the pure spirit. Her beautiful love for the character comes through. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful performance.”
Disney’s The Little Mermaid arrives in theaters this Friday, May 26th.
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