Undoing star Noma Dumezweni joins cast in live-action The Little Mermaid adaptation

Noma Dumezweni has had a mysterious role in Disney’s upcoming live-action film The Little Mermaid.

The British actress, who recently played the role of Hugh Grant’s lawyer in HBO’s hit HBO series The Undoing, will play a brand new character who wasn’t in the classic animated film.

For the new adaptation, Halle Bailey steps in as Ariel, the mermaid princess who dreams of being a human, alongside Melissa McCarthy as her evil aunt Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton.

New role: Noma Dumezweni, 51, joined the cast of live-action adaptation of Disney classic, The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid will be directed by Rob Marshall, who is best known for directing the film version of the Broadway musical Chicago (2002). It went on to win six Oscars, including Best Picture.

In another burst of experience, David Magee wrote the screenplay – he’s the man behind acclaimed films such as Finding Neverland (2004) and Life Of Pi (2012).

This new film release will feature the original songs written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as new tracks featuring music by Menken and lyrics by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Acclaimed Team: New Take on The Little Mermaid to be Directed by Rob Marshall and Written by David Magee

Miranda and Marshall will also produce with Marc Platt and John DeLuca.

Jessica Virtue and Allison Erlikhman oversee the studio, according to Deadline.

Opposite Ariel de Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King will play Eric, a prince Ariel falls in love with after saving him from drowning, as he becomes determined to find her.

On a role: Dumezweni starred alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in The Undoing; the three actors are pictured with writer David E. Kelley and director Susanne Bier

Some of the vocal roles include Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, a loyal crab and the loyal servant of King Triton who watches over Ariel; Awkwafina as Scuttle, Ariel’s diving bird friend; and Jacob Tremblay plays the noble tropical fish Flet.

Dumezweni, 51, is also well known for having created the role of Hermione Granger in the West End and Broadway series of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Her performance earned her a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.

She also turned a lot of heads with her role. as Paul Mescal’s therapist in the Hulu series adaptation of Normal People (2020) and as Miss Penny Farthing in the Marshall fantasy film Mary Poppins Returns (2018).

Winner: Dumezweni won the award for Best Supporting Actress for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; she accepted the honor at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, in April 2017