for the first time !

Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King on set of The Little Mermaid (2023) Interviewer: Halle and Jonah as Ariel and Eric, they are just an absolute match made in heaven. How was their chemistry read? Were you just, like, instantly, they've got it? Rob Marshall: That's such a great question. We had a screen test for three different actors to play Eric and we had them read with Halle. When Jonah [came in] you could just see within moments on screen there was an immediate connection. A friendship. You could see it. There was something about them. They just sparked when they were working with each other and they played a scene and it was just, I don't know, it's that thing you can't quite figure out what it is. What is that thing they have? But it was just an immediate connection. [Jonah] is so lovely. [Halle] is so divine. They're both lovely, smart, beautiful souls. And they just blossomed on screen together. And you know what? You would've chosen the same. The two of them in a minute. Interviewer: It was a no-brainer? Rob Marshall: It was a no-brainer.

Ariel and Eric saying each other's name! THE LITTLE MERMAID (2023) Dir. Rob Marshall

THE LITTLE MERMAID (2023) Dir. Rob Marshall

Halle Bailey as Ariel & Jonah Hauer-King as Eric

❛  i know we only just met but i already feel like i’ve known you my whole life.  ❜ ❛  umm, is this seat taken ?  ❜ ❛  don’t be alarmed now but there’s someone following you. pretend you know me and come with me. i’ll get you somewhere safe.  ❜ ❛  my friends ditched me here and now i could really use a ride home.  ❜ ❛  i don’t think we’ve met yet but you looked like you needed someone to talk to.  ❜ ❛  can you please pretend to be my boyfriend / girlfriend for a moment so my ex will leave me alone ?   ❜ ❛  are you always this straightforward with strangers ?  ❜ ❛  here, i noticed you lost this earlier.  ❜ ❛  i’m sorry, i must’ve mistaken you for somebody else.  ❜ ❛  so, what brings you here today ?  ❜ ❛  hi, my name is [name]. it’s nice meeting you.  ❜ ❛  you’re cute. how about i buy you a drink ?  ❜ ❛  can’t you watch where you are going ?!  ❜ ❛  i just moved into the apartment next to you, so i guess we’re gonna be neighbors now.  ❜ ❛  oh god, you’re [name], aren’t you ?  ❜ ❛  here, let me help you.  ❜ ❛  is there a reasons you’re here on your own ?  ❜ ❛  apparently we’re going to be working on this together now.  ❜ ❛  you look like you could use a hand with that.  ❜ ❛  what do people around here do to have some fun ?  ❜ ❛  looks like this will take a while, huh ?  ❜ ❛  oh god. please tell me you haven’t just heard me talk to myself.  ❜ ❛  excuse me, i think i’m lost.  ❜ ❛  i just wanted to say that i really like your outfit.  ❜ ❛  do you come here often ?  ❜ ❛  do you mind if i join you for a bit ?  ❜ ❛  you looked lonely so i got you a drink.  ❜ ❛  i don’t think we’ve met, i’m [name].  ❜ ❛  what the hell just happened there ?  ❜ ❛  have you seen this anywhere ? i must’ve lost it.  ❜ ❛  can i please use your phone ? i have to call someone to get me out of here.  ❜ ❛  seems like we’re gonna be spending a lot of time together.  ❜ ❛  come with me, and don’t ask any questions. it’s urgent.  ❜ ❛  i heard strange noises coming from your apartment and just wanted to make sure everything is alright.  ❜ ❛  i have a spare ticket, you wanna come in with me ?  ❜ ❛  you don’t know me but will you be my date for tonight ?  ❜ ❛  we’ve got some time to kill so why don’t you tell me a little about yourself ?  ❜ ❛  i don’t usually just walk up to strangers but my friends set me up to it.  ❜ ❛  i think our orders may have gotten mixed up.  ❜ ❛  do i have something on my face or why do you keep looking at me like that ?  ❜

❛  ah, i love it. it’s the most incredible feeling.  ❜ ❛  i still don’t totally believe it’s real.  ❜ ❛  wait. you think somebody is following you?  ❜ ❛  maybe it’s just your imagination. i think you should just forget all about it.  ❜ ❛  scared me a little there, my but … whoo, yes i’m fine, just fine.  ❜ ❛  i didn’t mean to break it to you that way. i wanted to ease into it and not just blurt it out.  ❜ ❛  no, it could be dangerous. i don’t want to get you in trouble with your mom.  ❜ ❛  but i can’t just wait here. i want to help.  ❜ ❛  you won’t get away with this, [name]!  ❜ ❛  i love when captives are difficult. makes my job so much more fun.  ❜ ❛  i couldn’t help you even if i wanted to.  ❜ ❛  you’re [name]? ha. i mean you’re beautiful and all, but you’re not that beautiful.  ❜ ❛  what?! how do you know that? did you see it happen?  ❜ ❛  stop! how long have we been doing this?  ❜ ❛  don’t play dumb with me.  ❜ ❛  look, this is serious, you have to listen to me.  ❜ ❛  why are you so against me? you should be happy someone else wants to help.  ❜ ❛  so that’s why you want my help, you need me.  ❜ ❛  you weren’t trying to ditch me or anything, right?  ❜ ❛  like a really good friend? or just a ‘good’ good friend?  ❜ ❛  thank you, but i’m sure i won’t need it.  ❜ ❛  have you forgotten about this? if you lie to me, your world will be … destroyed!  ❜ ❛  i don’t know why people make such a big deal out of this place. it’s not bad at all.  ❜ ❛  i’m just not sure i trust me.  ❜ ❛  take my hand and we’ll do it together. you ready?  ❜ ❛  you’re in love with him, aren’t you?  ❜ ❛  princes don’t go for commoners like me, that’s not how it works. besides, i think he’s in love with … someone else.  ❜ ❛  i need you to get it. can you do that?  ❜ ❛  how touching, you chose to save them. too bad they won’t live to appreciate it!  ❜ ❛  there are no words to thank you for what you’ve done.  ❜ ❛  i just wish it didn’t have to be in vain.  ❜ ❛  you’d be you. smart and brave and everything that makes you special.  ❜ ❛  i’d still be me so i’d find a way to be okay.  ❜ ❛  looks like everything turned out perfectly.  ❜ ❛  there’s only one thing that could make this day any better.  ❜ ❛  remember this moment, [name], as you watch me come into my destiny!  ❜ ❛  strange, i feel … different. is this what invulnerability feels like?  ❜ ❛  i wanted to congratulate you on a job well done. i’m very proud of you, you know.  ❜ ❛  i’ll see you again soon my dear. i promise.  ❜ ❛  oh, [name], you’ll never believe it. it was the most incredible adventure! i don’t even know where to start.  ❜