Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid is filling out its supporting cast, as both Flounder and Scuttle have reportedly been cast in the upcoming film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina have come aboard The Little Mermaid. Tremblay will voice Flounder, Ariel's fish best friend, while Awkwafina will play Scuttle, a seagull the protagonist meets during her journey on land. In the original animated film, Flounder and Scuttle were voiced by Jason Marin and Buddy Hackett respectively.
Tremblay broke onto the scene opposite Brie Larson in The Room and has since gone on to family-friendly fare with the hit Wonder. Akwafina has also seen her star rise recently, thanks to her roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8. She also has a part in Netflix's upcoming Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Joining Tremblay and Awkwafina, Melissa McCarthy will reportedly play Ursula in The Little Mermaid. While no official casting announcement has been made, the production for the film is coming together. With many of the major supporting roles being cast, director Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns) helming the film and original composer Alan Menken joining forces with Lin-Manuel Miranda to work on the music, it's only a matter of time before Disney announces something official.
After building a name with some of the most recognizable animated films of all time, Disney has spent the past few years moving into new territory: combining live action and CGI to retell their most famous stories. Maleficent and The Jungle Book both proved the venture profitable and critically successful. Despite poor reviews, Aladdin dominated the box office, pulling in close to $900 million worldwide since its release in late May.
Of course, two major roles are still up in the air: Ariel and Sebastian. While there's been no word on who will play the iconic crab, rumor has it Zendaya may play Ariel. In the meantime, Disney has a number of projects ahead of The Little Mermaid, including this summer's The Lion King and an upcoming remake of Mulan arriving next year.