Daveed Diggs is in talks to star in Disney’s upcoming and highly-anticipated live-action The Little Mermaid as Ariel’s friend and King Triton’s advisor Sebastian the crab. The news comes months after the announcements of casting decisions like Halle Bailey as the mermaid Ariel, Jacob Tremblay asFlounder, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Melissa McCarthy as the sea witch Ursula. Javier Bardem is currently in talks to play King Triton but Prince Eric has not been chosen yet, although Harry Styles was reportedly once eyeing the role.
Diggs gained national attention when he originated the role of Thomas Jefferson/Marquis de Lafayette in the Broadway production of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. In 2018 he wrote, produced, and starred in the film Blindspotting, for which he was nominated an Independent Spirit Award for Male Lead. In addition to the big screen roles, Diggs also has a recurring role in the ABC television series Black-ish.
Hamilton creator Miranda has a hand in The Little Mermaid project as producer and co-composer, so if Diggs does indeed get the job, it will make for a nice reunion. Miranda will be composing new music with the original animated film’s composer Alan Menken. Rob Marshall will direct from a screenplay by David Magee.
We’ll keep you updated if and when more casting for this role is revealed. Stay tuned…
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