Where Was The Little Mermaid Filmed? Reviving The 1989 Classic!

Back in 1989 when Disney released the animated movie The Little Mermaid, everyone loved it. The movie etched itself into the memories of children and adults alike. And just like every other Disney movie of that time, it taught children about life and love. Now three decades later, Disney is back with a live-action remake of the movie. Which brings the question: where was The Little Mermaid filmed?

The movie is about a mermaid so surely it cannot be all done underwater. The Little Mermaid live-action was first announced in 2020 but due to the pandemic, the filming had to be paused. Now, with things back in order, we see the movie about to finish its final stages.

So, where was The Little Mermaid filmed? The primary filming of the movie has been done in London. More specifically the Pinewood Studios in London. Outdoor shots of the sea and the shore have been done in Sardinia, Italy.

The filming locations of The Little Mermaid have been meticulously chosen. A pristine and clean place had to be selected and also a place that would be close to the original studios. The UK is known for a lot of picturesque spots as is evident by the filming locations for Morbius and Line of Duty.

The Plot The Little Mermaid | What Is The Movie About?

Before we move on to find out where was The Little Mermaid filmed, we need to know about the plot of the movie. For someone who didn’t watch the original animated series, a brief refresher is in order.

The Little Mermaid is based on the original collection of fairytale stories written by Hans Christen Anderson in 1836. The story follows the life of a mermaid princess named Ariel. She has the voice of an angel and can sing for days. The live-action movie is also going to be like a musical with the songs from the original movie being used.

As Ariel explores the sea, she one day reaches the surface. There she sees a prince who is in the middle of a celebration. His ship is struck by a storm and it capsizes. Ariel manages to save the prince and take him to shore. That’s when she falls hopelessly in love with him.

To be with the prince, Ariel makes a deal with a sea witch Ursula who promises to give her legs, in exchange for her voice. Ariel takes the deal, reaches the surface, and starts to live her life with the prince, only to get her heart broken. The story is one to remember and something which tugs your heartstrings.

Where Was The Little Mermaid Filmed |  All The Locations You Need To Know About!

The Little Mermaid live-actions stars Hailee Bailey as Ariel. The actress is a singer as well and is a part of the singing duo Chloe x Hailee. This means Ariel singing in the movie is going to feel very authentic.

Keeping a view of authenticity, the directors chose real locations that depicted the seas in all their glory. So let’s take a look at where was The Little Mermaid filmed!

Pinewood Studios, London, England.

The iconic studios took charge of the principal photography for The Little Mermaid. Filming started in 2020, but unfortunately, it was quickly shut down. As covid pandemic ravaged the world, filming had to be put on pause too. Then with the ease in restrictions, Pinewood opened its doors again, only to be shut back down.

This went on for almost a year and eventually, The Little Mermaid officially started filming in 2021. Hailee and her scene were mostly done inside the studios along with all the necessary visual effects. 

The movie also sees heavy CGI and voice-over work for characters like Sebastian – the loyal sidekick crab of Ariel. So the recording and visual work had to be finished in the studio itself. Some of the filmings also took place in Iver, England as Pinewood Studios has a branch there. 

Santa Teresa di Gallura, Sardinia, Italy

Besides the studio work, the village of Santa Teresa di Gallura was also used for the filming of The Little Mermaid. The movie moved its filming to Sardinia after having finished done with a major part in London. 

According to multiple reports, the cast and crew spent a total of three months in Sardinia. We also got to see Hailee post some cool pictures of her swimming in the crystal clear waters of Sardinia. The blue and open sea will be giving a realistic view of the movie. 

The interactions between ariel and the prince which happen over the shorelines are probably the ones being shot. Besides, if the filming in Sardinia took 3 months, then that means the director is going to incorporate as much realism in the movie as possible.

Interesting Facts About The Little Mermaid Remake

According to Disney, The Little Mermaid is coming to theatres in the Spring of 2023. For the fans, the wait has been a long time coming. Considering the delays and the cancellations, many are just going to be glad at the release.

Besides Hailee Bailey as Ariel, The Little Mermaid also stars Mellisa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Simone Ashley, and Jacob Tremblay. With a strong cast, the movie is surely going to be a good one to watch.

Disney released a trailer on September 10, 2022, which gave us a sneak peek into the movie. Giving us an idea about what the movie is going to be like, fans got to witness the movie in the flesh. We see amazing shots of the bottom of the ocean and a feisty-looking Ariel swimming through the corals. The hype for the final product has never been so much!

Final Words

We sure hope now you know where was The Little Mermaid filmed! For those old enough to have watched the animated version, it’s time to relive your childhood again. And for those who haven’t watched it yet, you still have a few months before the live-action comes. So give it a go!

Meanwhile, if you’re fascinated by filming locations, then be sure to check out where This Is 40 and Parenthood have been filmed! Also, if you would like to cover a movie or series of your choice, drop us a comment down below!