We have a fair wait until we see Halle Bailey swim into theaters as Ariel in Disney’s live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaid, but star Javier Bardem has already been heaping praise on the young lead, saying that it is intimidating starring alongside the actress mainly thanks to her stunning vocal talents. Even though filming has wrapped on the movie, the final film doesn’t hit cinemas until 2023, but as you would expect anyone appearing in the movie is going to be asked questions about it in every interview between now and then, with Bardem’s comments coming as an example.

While discussing his new movie Being The Ricardos, the biographical movie about I Love Lucy star Lucille Ball, Javier Bardem revealed to ET that playing King Triton alongside Bailey’s Ariel is a daunting task. He explained, "[When you're] close to Halle, it's impossible to sing... She was warming up her voice near me, and I was like 'What was that?' She goes, 'Oh, I was just warming up... It would take me five years to do that!"

While Bardem didn’t go on to reveal how much singing he does in the movie, it is likely that Triton’s screen time will have been expanded from the original 1989 animated movie, and with original composer Alan Menken returning to join Lin-Manuel Miranda in writing a series of new songs there is every likelihood that one of those songs will see Ariel and her father sharing a tune.

The cast of the new version of The Little Mermaid is certainly not lacking talent as along with Bailey and Bardem, other stars include Melissa McCarthy taking on the role of Ursula the Sea Witch, Awkwafina playing Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Daveed Diggs providing vocals for Sebastian the Crab. Scripting on the movie is by David Magee, with Rob Marshall directing.

Halle Bailey shared one of the first images of herself as Ariel as the movie wrapped filming in July, when she expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity she had been given. In an Instagram post she wrote this.

“…and just like that..that’s a wrap. After auditioning for this film when i was 18 just about to turn 19 , to now finishing filming through a pandemic when i turned 21 ..we have finally made it... I feel so grateful to have experienced this film in all of its glory..it has been the toughest experience being away from everything and everyone i’ve ever known, to feeling self doubt/ loneliness, but also feeling such freedom and perseverance as i’ve reached the end. this experience has made me so much stronger than i ever thought i could be."

"i’m so grateful to have such lovely and talented people in the cast like @jonahhauerking that will be my friend for infinite lifetimes, @jacobtremblay who i’m so proud of and legends like @bardemantarctic @melissamccarthy @awkwafina @daveeddiggs who are masters of their craft but are so welcoming and open to little old me..as well as to the rest of the beautiful cast and crew. i cannot wait for time to speed up so you all can watch this film because it was made with so much love (plus blood sweat and tears) lol thank you sardinia for a wonderful ending!!!”

The Disney live-action fairy tale The Little Mermaid will arrive in theaters in May 2023.