Congrats, Queen Latifah! The 49-year-old actress has secured the role of Ursula in ABC’s live concert version of The Little Mermaid.
While on Instagram yesterday (Aug. 5), Queen Latifah shared the exciting news with fans. “‘Fortunately I know a little magic.’ Excited to be a part of The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! #Ursula #TheLittleMermaid#TeamSeaWitch,” she wrote as her Instagram caption.
Last month, Disney announced that singer, Halle Bailey, secured the role of Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. As for Prince Eric, the role is not confirmed although there are rumors that Harry Styles is a prospective candidate.
The Little Mermaid centers around a rebellious 16-year-old mermaid who is in love with the idea of life on land. She goes to great lengths to live out her dream against her controlling father’s wishes.
Throughout her career, Queen Latifah has emphasized the importance of self-love and confidence. While speaking with Tracee Ellis Ross, Queen Latifah spoke about embracing oneself.
“I couldn’t be as good a Lil’ Kim as Lil’ Kim could be,” she began. “I couldn’t be as good a Foxy Brown as Foxy could be. But they couldn’t be as good a Latifah as I could be, so it’s about finding your own niche and owning it.”
Disney has seen a ton of success from their live-action remakes. Last month, Disney debuted the Jon Favreau-directed film, The Lion King, which featured Beyoncé, Childish Gambino, Chance The Rapper and more. Shortly after the film’s release, media outlets reported that the film was the No. 1 movie in the world. Within a couple of days, the film made over $544 million.
Back in May, Disney released their live-action remake of Aladdin, which featured Will Smith. The Guy Ritchie-directed film has become Smith’s highest-grossing film throughout his career.
The Little Mermaid Live! is making its way to the screen on Nov. 5. In the meantime, check out Queen Latifah’s announcement regarding her latest role below.