Summary:
- A trailer for a new horror movie version of “The Little Mermaid” is out now.
- In the film, an archaeologist named Eric Prince is lured by a mysterious mermaid.
- This movie is based on the original fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, not the 1989 Disney musical.
The trailer for a new horror twist on ‘The Little Mermaid‘ has just been released. Directed by Leigh Scott and featuring Lydia Helen, Mike Markoff, and Jeff Denton, this film is the latest to follow the trend of turning classic children’s characters into horror villains.
While several films like ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ and ‘Bambi: The Reckoning’ belong to the interconnected ‘Twisted Childhood Universe‘, others such as the Grinch-inspired ‘The Mean One’, and now ‘The Little Mermaid’, are produced by different studios.
MSR Media International has revealed the official trailer for their upcoming horror version of ‘The Little Mermaid’. The trailer introduces Eric Prince, a man who uncovers a mysterious structure at an island archaeological site, indicating the remnants of an ancient civilization.
Concurrently, he encounters Aurora Bey, a wealthy heiress newly arrived on the island, who is soon revealed to be a sinister, bloodthirsty mermaid. To watch the trailer, visit MSR Media International’s official website by clicking the link below:
Click here to watch the Little Mermaid trailer
How Can They Make a Horror Version of The Little Mermaid?
While this new project follows the trend of creating horror films based on public domain characters, such as the upcoming horror take on Mickey Mouse titled “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” it has one complication.
The most well-known version of “The Little Mermaid” is the 1989 Disney animated musical, which received a live-action remake starring Halle Bailey in 2023. This Disney adaptation, still relatively recent, is not in the public domain, even though the new horror movie shares some similarities with it.
The ability to create a horror version of “The Little Mermaid” comes from its basis in the original 1837 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, which is in the public domain. Andersen’s story, notably darker than Disney’s adaptation, allows for more grim interpretations.
The new film can incorporate certain elements that are not copyrighted from the Disney version, such as the mermaid’s red hair or a modified version of Prince Eric‘s name, but it must be careful not to closely replicate specifics from the Disney movie.
For example, the trailer for the new horror version of “The Little Mermaid” doesn’t copy any dialogue or songs from the 1989 Disney film. The movie might use some parts as parody, but it mainly avoids anything too similar to Disney’s version, sticking to general features.
Whether this approach will appeal to audiences is still unknown, but staying away from copyright material is essential for getting the movie released.
