Hey friend! If you‘re as pumped as I am for Disney‘s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid coming in 2024, you may be wondering: who is taking on the iconic voice role of Scuttle the seagull? Well, get ready for this – it‘s none other than the hilarious and talented Awkwafina!
Awkwafina‘s Perfect Qualifications to Voice Scuttle
Before we dive deeper into what we can expect from Awkwafina‘s Scuttle, let‘s look at why she‘s perfectly cast for this quirky role.
Awkwafina is a breakout star known for her comedy. She made history as the first Asian-American woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her moving turn in 2019‘s The Farewell. But she‘s also displayed some incredible range in roles like the drama Nora from Queens and Marvel‘s Shang-Chi.
Here are just a few highlights of Awkwafina‘s versatile career so far:
Ocean‘s 8 (2018) – Gave a hilarious performance as a skilled pickpocket in this female-led heist film with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and more A-listers
Crazy Rich Asians (2018) – Her charismatic supporting role as Peik Lin stole scenes and launched her into stardom
The Farewell (2019) – Displayed her dramatic chops, winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Film
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) – Voiced the warm, wise dragon Sisu in this Disney animated adventure
It‘s clear Awkwafina has the vocal range and improv skills to bring Scuttle to life. Now let‘s look at why this sea bird is such a beloved character.
Scuttle‘s Role in The Little Mermaid: A Knowledgeable Know-It-All
In the original 1989 animated film, Scuttle provides daily gossip and (usually ridiculous) knowledge to Ariel about the human world, which she‘s fascinated by but forbidden from being a part of.
Voiced by comedian Buddy Hackett, Scuttle is characterized as a scatterbrained but loyal friend to Ariel. He misidentifies common objects like calling a fork a "dinglehopper" but has an endearing confidence in his nonsense explanations.
Some of Scuttle‘s funniest and most memorable scenes involve naming absurd uses for the human artifacts Ariel discovers. Like using a pipe as a musical instrument or a watchdog‘s muzzle as a fashion accessory.
While played for laughs, Scuttle also serves a key role in encouraging Ariel‘s curiosity, fascination with humans, and determination to join their world.
How Awkwafina Could Reimagine Scuttle
Fans are eager to see how Awkwafina makes the role her own. With her quick improv skills, unique raspy voice and exuberant manner, Awkwafina seems destined to make Scuttle a scene-stealer.
Early reactions from director Rob Marshall praise Awkwafina for bringing real heart and hilarity to Scuttle during the voice recording process.
It‘s easy to imagine Awkwafina building on the character‘s humor and lovable ignorance for some truly funny and memorable moments. I could see her making Scuttle‘s misinformed advice even more ridiculous and over the top.
She might also add a bit more depth by subtly conveying Scuttle‘s underlying care and concern for Ariel beneath the dim-witted exterior. Awkwafina has a real talent for fusing comedy and emotion.
All signs point to her breathing new life into this fan favorite character! The casting is spot-on.
Diving Into The Full Cast for The Little Mermaid 2023
While we‘re pumped for Awkwafina as Scuttle, she‘s just one part of an amazing ensemble cast assembled for this remake! Here‘s a quick look at who will bring the main characters from under the sea to life in stunning live-action:
Halle Bailey as Ariel – The incredibly talented singer/actress, one half of Chloe x Halle, will lead the film as the curious mermaid princess Ariel
Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric – The British actor takes on the role of the human prince who wins Ariel‘s heart
Melissa McCarthy as Ursula – The comedic powerhouse is set to chew scenery as the villainous sea witch Ursula
Javier Bardem as King Triton – Oscar-winner Bardem provides gravitas and pathos as Ariel‘s concerned father
Daveed Diggs as Sebastian – Hamilton alum Diggs brings musical chops as the fearful crab who tries to keep Ariel safe
Jacob Tremblay as Flounder – The young actor voices Ariel‘s fish best friend, offering moral support
And of course…Awkwafina as Scuttle – the hilarious live-wire who will steal scenes as Ariel‘s "expert" on humans
With gorgeous visuals and timeless musical numbers, this adaptation is shaping up to be amazing. The casting raises the bar even higher!
Awkwafina‘s Disney Voice Roles To Date
In case you didn‘t know, The Little Mermaid isn‘t the first time Awkwafina has lent her vocal talents to Disney animation!
She previously voiced the warm, comedic dragon Sisu in Disney‘s fantasy epic Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Awkwafina brought tons of humor and heart to that film‘s epic quest.
Her voice acting drew widespread praise for its emotion and comedic timing. So it‘s no wonder Disney tapped her once again for the plum role of Scuttle.
Awkwafina has said she grew up loving Disney animated musicals like The Little Mermaid. So I bet getting to join this remake cast is a dream come true! Her passion will surely come through in her performance.
The Characters of The Little Mermaid 2023 At A Glance
If you‘re not already familiar with the cast of characters who populate Disney‘s under-the-sea kingdom of Atlantica, here‘s a helpful cheat sheet before the film comes out:
Ariel – Mermaid princess filled with curiosity about the human world, willing to make daring deals with the sea witch Ursula in order to experience life above water and pursue her romance with the human Prince Eric.
Prince Eric – A handsome, adventure-seeking human prince who is drawn to the mysterious girl who saved him from drowning (Ariel, though he doesn‘t realize it). Eric makes for a charming love interest as Ariel yearns to join him on land.
Ursula – The manipulative and deceitful sea witch who tricks Ariel into handing over her beautiful voice in exchange for human legs. Ursula‘s nefarious use of Ariel to overthrow King Triton makes her one of Disney‘s most infamous villains.
King Triton – Ariel‘s widowed father and the ruler of Atlantica who wants to shield Ariel from the dangerous human world, leading to rebellious conflict and tension between father and daughter.
Scuttle – A ditzy but lovable seagull who provides wild misinformation and psuedo-expert advice to Ariel on human life. Scuttle is enthusiastic about helping Ariel gain legs and win over Eric, even if his advice isn‘t quite accurate!
Sebastian – A cautious and prudent crab who tries fruitlessly to discourage Ariel‘s daring adventures and fascination with human artifacts and custom. Despite his fears, Sebastian is loyal and eventually instrumental in saving Ariel.
Flounder – A brightly colored tropical fish and Ariel‘s best undersea friend who joins her on escapades despite his risk aversion and timid nature.
The Musical Magic Of The Little Mermaid
A crucial piece of The Little Mermaid‘s appeal lies in its incredible music composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman.
Songs like "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl" effortlessly move the story forward while capturing Ariel‘s longing, excitement and romance beautifully.
This remake promises stunning visuals to pair with those memorable melodies and musical numbers. Footage of Halle Bailey‘s screen test singing "Part of Your World" went viral – her vocals gave me chills!
Director Rob Marshall previously struck gold bringing the musical Chicago to screen, so he knows how to pull off this mix of music, magic and cutting-edge visual effects.
For fans like me who grew up loving the 1989 original, the nostalgia rush of hearing "Under the Sea" and the rest in a bright, immersive live-action world will make this a must-see!
The Production Budget and Scope
Disney is clearly sparing no expense bringing their beloved mermaid tale back to the big screen. Industry estimates put The Little Mermaid‘s production budget around $100 million.
For comparison, their recent live-action Aladdin remake cost $183 million and made over $1 billion worldwide. So Disney has big hopes for what The Little Mermaid can do at the box office!
Some of that budget will go to state-of-the-art visual effects overseen by legendary VFX pros like Richard Clegg (Doctor Strange). Of course, music licensing, rights, and talent costs for stars like Melissa McCarthy likely make up a huge portion too.
Early reactions to footage promise the budget will translate to absolutely jaw-dropping underwater sequences in Atlantica. The production valeur looks truly cinematic.
Conclusion: Get Ready To Dive Into Awkwafina‘s Scuttle Performance!
Well, I hope this breakdown got you even more excited for Awkwafina as Scuttle and everything else The Little Mermaid has in store when it splashes into theaters on May 26, 2023!
Awkwafina is primed to make Scuttle a hilarious standout. And the spectacular visuals set to those timeless songs will transport us under the sea like never before. I don‘t know about you, but I truly can‘t wait! This cast and creative team promises an adaptation for the ages.
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to go memorize all the lyrics to "Poor Unfortunate Souls" before I hit the theater next year! Let me know which song from The Little Mermaid is your most eagerly awaiting hearing on the big screen again. Maybe we‘ll get to enjoy them together at the premiere next May!
