The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday.
In a never-before-seen scene and first look at the film’s iconic Kiss The Girl number, the 23-year-old singer, who plays Ariel, shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride.
Kiss the Girl was playing in the background as the pair are seen sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees.
As their sea animal friends encouraged them to kiss, the characters were interrupted multiple times due to their own shyness or coincidentally when the boat flipped.
The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26.
Sneak peek: The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday
In the beginning of the sneak peek preview, the five-time Grammy nominee was seen in a baby blue, tulle gown and a pink bandana tied around her hair.
The World On Fire star sported a white pirate shirt like in the animated movie but also sported a navy blue, double-breasted vest.
The pair were seen laying in a boat shoulder-to-shoulder but are too nervous to look each other in the eye.
Ariel and Prince Eric started leaning in for a smooch, but the red-headed beauty suddenly sat up when the canoe floated into low-hanging willow leaves.
Magically, fireflies started surrounding the pair, and they appeared mesmerized by the twinkling sight.
All of a sudden, a school of fish appeared and swam around the boat causing a slow rotation.
Ariel’s gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempted to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain.
When water splashed onto Eric, Ariel touched his face — causing the two share a sweet moment.
Kiss the girl: In a never-before-seen scene, the singer was portraying Ariel and shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride
Romantic: Inspired by the famous scene from the original Disney classic, Kiss the Girl is playing in the background as the pair are sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees
Magical moment: Ariel’s gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempt to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain
Inspired by famous scene: When water splashes onto Eric, Ariel touches his face — causing the two share a sweet moment
Coming soon: Now holding hands, they go in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flips. The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26
Now holding hands, they went in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flipped.
According to the official synopsis, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel — the youngest of King Triton’s many daughters.
The ‘bright and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure’ — who longs to ‘find out more about the world beyond the sea’ — makes a trip to the surface and meets Prince Eric.
‘Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land,’ the summary read.
Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film.
Composer Alan Menken told Vanity Fair last month: ‘There are some lyric changes in Kiss the Girl because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel].
The lyrics to the original song – which encourage Prince Eric to kiss Ariel before it’s too late and without asking for her consent – include the chorus lines: ‘Yes, you want her. Look at her, you know you do. Possible she wants you too. There is one way to ask her. It don’t take a word. Not a single word. Go on and kiss the girl.’
Menken added: ‘We have some revisions in Poor Unfortunate Souls regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn’t speak out of turn.
‘Even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice.’
In the original song, Ursula sings: ‘The men up there don’t like a lot of blabber. They think a girl who gossips is a bore!
‘Yet on land it’s much preferred for ladies not to say a word
‘And after all dear, what is idle babble for? Come on, they’re not all that impressed with conversation. True gentlemen avoid it when they can
‘But they dote and swoon and fawn. On a lady who’s withdrawn It’s she who holds her tongue who gets a man.’
Change: Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film
Remake: The reboot is set for release on May 26 – but fans will notice that classic tracks such as Kiss The Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls have different lyrics (pictured the original 1989 film)
The lyrics for the songs on the 1989 soundtrack were written by the late Howard Ashman and composed by Menken.
Menken has joined producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to write new music for the remake and rework the original songs.
The long-running awards show was one of the first victims of the ongoing dispute between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America union.
Writers are now on strike and picketing studios, leading the host Drew Barrymore to announce she was dropping out last Sunday.
The 48-year-old actress-turned-talk show host had been set to MC the festivities, but she is now putting her clout behind writers struggling to earn better pay and guarantees on staffing, as studios increasingly try to limit the size of writers’ rooms and shrink the number of episodes per series.
‘I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,’ Barrymore told Variety. ‘Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.’
The labor action has also led the awards show to cancel its red carpet festivities, and other stars may also drop out to show support to strikers.
On Thursday, Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent also announced she was no longer attending as a show of solidarity.
‘Although Vanderpump Rules falls under the unscripted sector of TV, that is not an excuse for me to remain silent and carry on as if there isn’t so much at stake for every writer and their families,’ she told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. ‘We have to protect our creators and I hope you’ll stand with me and many others as we do so until we reach a resolution (hopefully very soon).’
