The 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid will bring Ariel's sea creature friends to life, which means new actors will have to lend their voices to characters like Sebastian. The little red crab is among the most notable characters of the original animated The Little Mermaid and provides the lead vocals for the popular "Under the Sea" musical number. Therefore, Disney had no easy task finding talent to replace actor Samuel E. Wright. Thankfully, the cast list for the live-action remake didn't disappoint.
Sebastian is known as the anxious but proud advisor to King Triton and the court composer (a job which he takes very seriously). Throughout The Little Mermaid, the Jamaican crab had his work cut out for him keeping an eye on Princess Ariel, who was bound and determined to get into trouble. Sebastian's frustrated efforts to keep the titular little mermaid safe distinguished him as the bossy yet lovable character in the world of Disney. His iconic voice is one any fan would recognize. Unfortunately, the late actor that portrayed him in the animated film cannot return, so the role has been ed on to another.
Daveed Diggs Plays Sebastian In Disney's The Little Mermaid Remake
Disney's changes to The Little Mermaid for the sake of the live-action remake are doomed to face backlash from longtime fans. When it comes to characters like Sebastian and Flounder, these criticisms come from the hyperrealistic design of the flatfish and crab since they are far less adorable than their animated counterparts. However, when it comes to the vocal performances of these characters, there is little to criticize. In fact, it's clear that the new actor for Sebastian took significant inspiration from Samuel E. Wright's vocal work in the original The Littler Mermaid.
The man behind Sebastian in the The Little Mermaid remake is actor, rapper, and songwriter Daveed Diggs. Aside from nailing Sabastian's Trinidadian accent, Diggs had proved himself worthy of the role with his various awards, including the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical and nominations for awards like the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a ing Role in a Limited Series or Movie. On the music side of his career, Diggs has performed with various groups, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail's freestyle rap group known as Freestyle Love Supreme.
Where Else You've Seen The Little Mermaid's Daveed Diggs
Diggs is best known for playing the dual role of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the original Broadway production of Hamilton. Here he proved his musical chops by keeping up with Lin-Manuel Miranda's notoriously difficult lyrics, and his celebrity status was immediately solidified. Since Hamilton, Diggs wrote, produced, and starred in the 2018 film Blindspotting, as well as the TV series spin-off of the same name. He also has reoccurring roles in series like Black-ish and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Diggs returned to his roles in Hamilton for the Disney+ live-stage filming in 2020, which was a surprise hit for the streaming platform. The musical became a fast favorite for audiences worldwide, even those who previously had no interest in theater. This turned Daveed Diggs into a household name, which made his addition to the 2023 The Little Mermaid cast list all the more exciting. Doubtless, he will do Sebastian's live-action character justice.
