San Diego Comic-Con is currently underway this weekend, bringing not only updates on films and TV shows, but also hosting panels dedicated to book enthusiasts. On the opening day, July 20, Perri Nemiroff from FilmSweep led the Books-to-Film Tie-in: An Insider Perspective panel, which welcomed authors Rektok Ross, Melissa de la Cruz, and J. Elle. Elle, in particular, has recently been connected to the cinema universe with her live-action prequel novel to The Little Mermaid, Against the Tide, which was published in April.
Elle shared her experiences and insights about handling Ariel’s story during the panel, specifically how Against the Tide provides a fresh perspective on the well-known character. The book details Ariel’s adventure across the seven seas with her sisters in search of one who was kidnapped. Furthermore, Against the Tide uncovers Ariel’s beginnings, revealing how the princess morphed into the passionate collector of human artifacts. Elle admitted to initially considering the offer as “an April Fools’ Joke…since it’s the first Little Mermaid where Ariel resembles me.” She was deeply moved by the historic moment and “utterly astounded that they believed I was up to the task.”
Writing Against the Tide was an exciting task for Elle, but it also came with its share of pressures. Elle first identified the pressure originating from the fact that “art in movies and books, at the end of the day, becomes personal property to us, the consumers. Our interpretations and the meanings we assign to it are profoundly personal.” Above all, Elle felt the challenge of writing for an already established character, confessing her fear of misrepresenting Ariel’s personality. Fortunately, Elle was given considerable freedom to mold the story in her style and succeeded in depicting a contemporary Ariel.
Image via Disney
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J. Elle Explores More Than Just Ariel’s Journey
Elle elaborated that Ariel was “the most restricted aspect” as she “believed it was necessary to portray the Ariel we all are familiar with.” Yet, Elle disclosed that she had the opportunity to review the script as she composed, allowing her to align with the version of The Little Mermaid her book would accompany. Importantly, Against the Tide presented Elle with the prospect of delving deeper into Ariel’s sisters’ lives, an angle not fully explored in the film. This became another “fascinating part” of writing the prequel for Elle.
“We writers, especially fantasy writers, thrive on inventing our narratives from our imagination. One of the elements I had the freedom to fabricate is the dwelling place of these sisters, because in ‘Against the Tide,’ they aren’t all residing in Atlantica at the palace. They each have their territories. I had the chance to conceive various oceans with their unique geographies…I was able to invent the most outrageous things about these different places the sisters originated from and make each of them distinct. This was fantastic because I was starting with ‘a blank slate,’ and I thrive with a blank slate.”
The Little Mermaid is set for release on digital platforms on Tuesday, July 25. Find out more about Elle’s thoughts below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about J. Elle ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’
Who is the author of ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’?
J. Elle is the author of ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’.
What is ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ about?
‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ is a prequel to The Little Mermaid that follows Ariel and her sisters on a quest across the seven seas to find their kidnapped sister. The book also provides an origin story for Ariel, revealing how she became a collector of human objects.
Where was J. Elle discussing her book ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’?
J. Elle discussed her book ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ at the San Diego Comic-Con during the Books-to-Film Tie-in: An Insider Perspective panel.
When was ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ released?
‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ was released in April.
Does ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’ also delve into the stories of Ariel’s sisters?
Yes, J. Elle had the opportunity to explore more about Ariel’s sisters in ‘Against the Tide’, which was not fully explored in the original movie.
More about J. Elle ‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’
- [San Diego Comic-Con]
- [J. Elle]
- [‘The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide’]
- [Ariel]
- [Book-to-Film Adaptation]
6 comments
omg!! A modern Ariel and a deeper dive into her sisters’ lives?! Sign me up!
Wow, J.Elle’s take on the Little Mermaid sounds really cool. Can’t wait to read it!
Ariel’s sisters? i never thought about them before…this could be interesting!
different oceans with their own geographies huh? i’m intrigued by this world-building aspect. good on elle!
Ive always been a fan of J Elle. I am excited to see how she’s expanded Ariel’s story.
April fools joke? LOL, glad J. Elle decided to go for it. love seeing new angles on old stories!