Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ Remake Star Jacob Tremblay Stands By Flounder’s Live-Action Redesign: “I Think It Just All Works So Well”

Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) makes his debut in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney
Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) makes his debut in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney

While most have found themselves filled with abject terror after laying their eyes upon Disney’s design for Flounder in their upcoming remake of The Little Mermaid, his actor, Jacob Tremblay, has thrown the full weight of his support behind the bubbly fish’s live-action appearance.

Ariel (Halle Bailey) wants to be part of your world in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney

Ariel (Halle Bailey) wants to be part of your world in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney

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Unveiled in full with Disney’s April 26th release of The Little Mermaid‘s primary cast posters, Flounder’s new look sees the angelfish-inspired sidekick giving off an air that’s less ‘life under the sea is wetter’ and more ‘poor unfortunate soul’, with Disney’s latest attempt at translating animation to live-action failing to escape the same unexpressive, ‘uncanny animal valley’ that their previous The Lion King remake is still famous for to this day.

Constantly wearing a twitchy, deadpan expression, devoid of much of the color that defined his predecessor, and so skinny that at times it stretches one’s ability to suspend their disbelief, the fish’s appearance has been widely panned, to say the least.

Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) and Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) watch on as Ariel (Halle Bailey) makes a deal in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney

Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) and Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) watch on as Ariel (Halle Bailey) makes a deal in The Little Mermaid (2023), Disney

The response to Flounder’s reveal was perhaps best summed by a single tweet from the official Twitter account for the Southlake, Texas Department of Public Safety.

Retweeting the character’s new poster, the Department playfully declared, “Yes, this is a crime – we’re just trying to find out which one.”

The Southlake, Texas Department of Public Safety weighs in on 'The Little Mermaid's' new version of Flounder.

Archive Link Southlake, Texas Department of Public Safety via Twitter

However, while most found themselves put off by the once-energetic fish’s appearance, his actor, the aforementioned Tremblay, was not one of them.

Asked by Variety about his thoughts about the criticisms leveled against Flounder’s design while on the ‘blue’ carpet for The Little Mermaid‘s world premiere, the Room actor asserted, “I actually was shown the design [when I went in for my audition. [Director] Rob [Marshall] had shown me. And I just had complete faith in Rob.”

“I thought it looked great, because that was, like, the puppet they had on set,” he added. “And then, of course, when I went and saw the film — I watched it last night — and I think it just all works so well. I couldn’t imagine it looking different. I just think that, I mean, they were geniuses, and they kind of just made it work so well.”

Ariel and her dead-eyed companion are currently set to surf into theaters on May 26th.

NEXT: Live-Action “The Little Mermaid” Tie-In Book Reveals Ursula Now Defeated By Ariel Instead Of Prince Eric

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