Jodi Benson's cameo in live-action remake, relives magic

Jodi Benson, the beloved original voice of Ariel in Disney's animated classic The Little Mermaid, is delighted to dive back into that enchanting world once again. 

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, published on Friday, Benson shared her excitement about her cameo appearance in director Rob Marshall's highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the beloved 1989 film.

“It was just a huge thrill for me when Robbie reached out,” Benson told the outlet.

“I'm like, Of course, I'm gonna come! I don't care what I'm doing. It was just pure joy for me.”

Rob Marshall expressed his delight in having Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel, made a cameo appearance.

Marshall emphasized the importance of Benson's involvement feeling organic and not merely a stunt. 

This perfect moment comes when Benson's character, a marketplace vendor, offers a bowl of food to the now-human Ariel, portrayed by Halle Bailey.

In a whimsical twist, Ariel, still adapting to life on land, mistakes the fork for a dinglehopper—the name given to a fork by the lovable seagull Scuttle in the original animated film.

Instead of using the utensil for its intended purpose, Ariel hilariously uses it to style her hair.

“It's literally like passing the torch,” Benson expressed her delight in the nostalgic callback to Ariel twirling a fork through her hair, a memorable moment from the original 1989 animated film.

Marshall revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the decision to recreate the iconic moment at a marketplace in the live-action remake stemmed from a desire for it to feel more organic and authentic.

In addition to the new setting, the adaptation incorporates fresh plotlines, offering audiences a reimagined take on the beloved story. 

Furthermore, the film introduces new songs and includes minor lyrical changes to the iconic tunes that fans hold dear from the original musical.

Jodi expressed her support for these alterations in an interview with PEOPLE earlier this week. 

“When you look at our film, we started in the studio in 1986 and we were released in 1989. Times change, people change, cultures change,” said Benson. 

“What matters and what is important changes.

The Little Mermaid is playing now in theaters.