Disney and director Rob Marshall are putting the new, live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid into high gear now that the film is finally, properly coming together. On the heels of Melissa McCarthy kicking off talks to play sea witch Ursula comes word that Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay are both making deals to lend their voices to the film.
Though the movie itself will feature humans playing the likes of central mermaid Ariel and the target of her land-based infatuation, Prince Eric, there will naturally be a number of CG-created sea critters. Awkwafina's is circling the role of Scuttle, the seagull (voiced in the 1989 'toon by Don Rickles), while Tremblay is closing in on the role of faithful fish friend Flounder.
Marshall has a script that saw a re-write by his Mary Poppins Returns collaborator David Magee, and he's recruited Poppins performer (and slightly experienced musical creator) Lin-Manuel Miranda to work on the tunes alongside returning composer Alan Menken.
Awkwafina, best known for Crazy Rich Asians, has indie drama The Farewell due out in the States on 12 July (it's still awaiting an official British release after playing Sundance London) and has a small role in Jumanji: The Next Level (you can see her pop up in the first trailer, which just went online). As for Tremblay, he'll be seen in Good Boys (16 August) and Stephen King adaptation Doctor Sleep (31 October).