Disney Branded Television has greenlit a new animated series for preschoolers.
Taye Diggs will voice King Triton alongside Mykal-Michelle Harris’ Ariel and Amber Riley’s Ursula in Disney Junior’s Ariel, the animated series based on the original The Little Mermaid.
This series follows an eight-year-old Ariel as she and her friends “embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond,” according to the official website description.
The news comes three months after the release of the live-action Little Mermaid movie starring Halle Bailey.
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television shared, “For more than 30 years, the story of ‘The Little Mermaid’ has been beloved by audiences all over the world. It brings me so much joy to be able to introduce our new Disney Junior version of Ariel to preschoolers everywhere.”
For Diggs, 52, this will be his first Disney Junior lead role. Since 1994, Diggs has starred in various projects including Broadway musicals, TV series, and films. He made his film debut in How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), which brought Diggs much acclaim and exposure. He previously guest-starred as a voice actor on the Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins and Elena of Avalor.
Amber Riley, 37, made her acting debut as Mercedes on comedy-drama television series, Glee. She has starred in numerous TV (Dancing With The Stars, A Black Lady Sketch Show) and broadway shows (Little Shop of Horrors) while maintaining a singing career.
Mykal-Michelle Harris, 11, has starred in Mixed-ish, Ravens Home and HBO’s Big Little Lies as young Bonnie. She is known for her roles on A Kid Called Mayonnaise, Little Big Shots and The Affair, as well as multiple festival short films.
Disney Junior’s Ariel is set to arrive in 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+.