Featured Image Credit: Album / Alamy Stock Photo / Disney
Topics: Disney, Film and TV, Celebrity
Ali Condon
Topics: Disney, Film and TV, Celebrity
As fans get excited for the live action Little Mermaid film starring Halle Bailey to hit cinemas, another Disney live action star is in hot water.
Mena Massoud, who starred in the 2019 film Aladdin, has deleted his entire Twitter account after getting in trouble with fans for a comment he made about The Little Mermaid live action.
The comment was made in response to reports that The Little Mermaid was on track to earn $115 million on its domestic box office opening weekend - putting it ahead Aladdin, which earned $112 million on its opening weekend.
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The hype surrounding The Little Mermaid has been massive, so it might not come as a surprise to fans that the new Disney live action is set to outsell Aladdin - but Mena isn't so sure.
Replying to a tweet about the film's success, Mena claimed that Aladdin 'crossed the billion mark', but The Little Mermaid probably won't, though it 'will undoubtedly get a sequel.'
The full tweet read: "Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It's the only way we reached the billion-dollar mark with our opening. My guess is [The Little Mermaid] doesn't cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel."
Needless to say, Disney fans were quick to hit back at Mena and defend the beloved Little Mermaid film.
"The OG Little Mermaid is like 3X more loved than OG Aladdin, I think that’ll play into the box office," tweeted one user.
"No shade but I forgot they did a live action Aladdin," admitted a second.
A third claimed: "Sir you’re being bitter cuz the movie is doing way better than Aladdin despite it not even being out yet.."
And a fourth even told him: "I loved Aladdin and literally on top 5 of my most fave Disney remakes. being pessimistic on a movie that hasn't been out yet but praised by critics is just disappointing. I'm so disappointed in you."
Yeesh.
So, the lesson here is: do not mess with Disney fans.
Mena has not yet responded to the backlash, but UNILAD has reached out to his representatives for comment.
The response so far to The Little Mermaid has been huge with some, who were lucky enough to view it early, calling it the 'best live-action Disney movie' of all time.
One critic, Grace Randolph, tweeted: "The Little Mermaid is Disney's best live-action adaption, in that it succeeds not just as nostalgia but as an often stunning film in its own right.
"Not PERFECT but it's got the Disney magic! And should definitely be seen on the big screen."
Film critic Zoe Rose Bryant also shared a similar sentiment, writing: “I haven’t done a ranking in a LONG time, but The Little Mermaid is also *easily* right up there with CINDERELLA as my favorite of Disney’s live-action remakes - it’s the perfect balance of fresh and familiar, and it makes an oft-told tale feel new again.”