Melissa McCarthy draws inspiration from Drag Queens to play Ursula 

Disney's musical fantasy film The Little Mermaid will hit the theatres on May 26. The film features actor Melissa McCarthy as the main antagonist, Ursula. 

Melissa McCarthy says performing as Drag Queen named Miss Y in New York City in her early career influenced her to play Ursula. "There's a drag queen that lives in me, and I'm always right on the verge of going full-time with her." She elaborated that she wanted to use the characteristics of Drag queens that she finds interesting in her portrayal of Ursula. "To keep the humour and the sadness and the edginess to Ursula is everything I want in character - and frankly, everything I want in a drag queen," she added.  

The film's music composer, Alan Menken, earlier confirmed the animated character was inspired by drag queen Divine.

The Little Mermaid features Halle Bailey as the central character. She is joined by Jude Akuwudike, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Simone Ashley, Noma Dumezwani, Russell Balogh, and Jessica Alexander, among others.

Rob Marshall helms The Little Mermaid with a screenplay by Jane Goldman and David Magee. Walt Disney Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, Lucamar Productions, and 5000 Broadway Productions are backing the film.