The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday.

In a never-before-seen scene and first look at the film’s iconic Kiss The Girl number, the 23-year-old singer, who plays Ariel, shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride.

Kiss the Girl was playing in the background as the pair are seen sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees.

As their sea animal friends encouraged them to kiss, the characters were interrupted multiple times due to their own shyness or coincidentally when the boat flipped. 

The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26.

Sneak peek: The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday

Sneak peek: The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday

Sneak peek: The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey went in for the kiss in a new teaser of The Little Mermaid played during the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday

In the beginning of the sneak peek preview, the five-time Grammy nominee was seen in a baby blue, tulle gown and a pink bandana tied around her hair.

The World On Fire star sported a white pirate shirt like in the animated movie but also sported a navy blue, double-breasted vest. 

The pair were seen laying in a boat shoulder-to-shoulder but are too nervous to look each other in the eye. 

Ariel and Prince Eric started leaning in for a smooch, but the red-headed beauty suddenly sat up when the canoe floated into low-hanging willow leaves.

Magically, fireflies started surrounding the pair, and they appeared mesmerized by the twinkling sight.

All of a sudden, a school of fish appeared and swam around the boat causing a slow rotation.

Ariel’s gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempted to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain.

When water splashed onto Eric, Ariel touched his face — causing the two share a sweet moment.

Kiss the girl: In a never-before-seen scene, the singer was portraying Ariel and shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride

Kiss the girl: In a never-before-seen scene, the singer was portraying Ariel and shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride

Kiss the girl: In a never-before-seen scene, the singer was portraying Ariel and shared an intimate moment with Prince Eric — played by Jonah Hauer-King, 27 — during a romantic canoe ride

Romantic: Inspired by the famous scene from the original Disney classic, Kiss the Girl is playing in the background as the pair are sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees

Romantic: Inspired by the famous scene from the original Disney classic, Kiss the Girl is playing in the background as the pair are sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees

Romantic: Inspired by the famous scene from the original Disney classic, Kiss the Girl is playing in the background as the pair are sitting in a boat underneath the willow trees

Magical moment: Ariel's gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempt to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain

Magical moment: Ariel's gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempt to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain

Magical moment: Ariel’s gilled friends — unbeknownst to Eric — attempt to make the moment more romantic by spitting water to create a fountain

Inspired by famous scene: When water splashes onto Eric, Ariel touches his face — causing the two share a sweet moment

Inspired by famous scene: When water splashes onto Eric, Ariel touches his face — causing the two share a sweet moment

Inspired by famous scene: When water splashes onto Eric, Ariel touches his face — causing the two share a sweet moment

Bad timing: Now holding hands, they go in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flips

Bad timing: Now holding hands, they go in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flips

Coming soon: The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26

Coming soon: The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26

Coming soon: Now holding hands, they go in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flips. The live-action reimagining of the animated film will receive a theatrical release later this month on May 26

Now holding hands, they went in for a kiss again, but at the very last moment, the boat flipped. 

According to the official synopsis, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel — the youngest of King Triton’s many daughters.

The ‘bright and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure’ — who longs to ‘find out more about the world beyond the sea’ — makes a trip to the surface and meets Prince Eric.

‘Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land,’ the summary read. 

Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film.

Composer Alan Menken told Vanity Fair last month: ‘There are some lyric changes in Kiss the Girl because people have gotten very sensitive about the idea that [Prince Eric] would, in any way, force himself on [Ariel].

The lyrics to the original song – which encourage Prince Eric to kiss Ariel before it’s too late and without asking for her consent – include the chorus lines: ‘Yes, you want her.  Look at her, you know you do.  Possible she wants you too.  There is one way to ask her.  It don’t take a word. Not a single word.  Go on and kiss the girl.’

Menken added: ‘We have some revisions in Poor Unfortunate Souls regarding lines that might make young girls somehow feel that they shouldn’t speak out of turn.

‘Even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel to give up her voice.’

In the original song, Ursula sings: ‘The men up there don’t like a lot of blabber. They think a girl who gossips is a bore!

‘Yet on land it’s much preferred for ladies not to say a word

‘And after all dear, what is idle babble for? Come on, they’re not all that impressed with conversation. True gentlemen avoid it when they can

‘But they dote and swoon and fawn. On a lady who’s withdrawn It’s she who holds her tongue who gets a man.’

Change: Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film

Change: Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film

Change: Iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have had their lyrics changed to reflect consent in the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film 

Remake: The reboot is set for release on May 26 - but fans will notice that classic tracks such as Kiss The Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls have different lyrics (pictured the original 1989 film)

Remake: The reboot is set for release on May 26 - but fans will notice that classic tracks such as Kiss The Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls have different lyrics (pictured the original 1989 film)

Remake: The reboot is set for release on May 26 – but fans will notice that classic tracks such as Kiss The Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls have different lyrics (pictured the original 1989 film)

The lyrics for the songs on the 1989 soundtrack were written by the late Howard Ashman and composed by Menken.

Menken has joined producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to write new music for the remake and rework the original songs.

The long-running awards show was one of the first victims of the ongoing dispute between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America union.

Writers are now on strike and picketing studios, leading the host Drew Barrymore to announce she was dropping out last Sunday.

The 48-year-old actress-turned-talk show host had been set to MC the festivities, but she is now putting her clout behind writers struggling to earn better pay and guarantees on staffing, as studios increasingly try to limit the size of writers’ rooms and shrink the number of episodes per series.  

‘I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,’ Barrymore told Variety. ‘Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.’

The labor action has also led the awards show to cancel its red carpet festivities, and other stars may also drop out to show support to strikers.

On Thursday, Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent also announced she was no longer attending as a show of solidarity.

‘Although Vanderpump Rules falls under the unscripted sector of TV, that is not an excuse for me to remain silent and carry on as if there isn’t so much at stake for every writer and their families,’ she told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. ‘We have to protect our creators and I hope you’ll stand with me and many others as we do so until we reach a resolution (hopefully very soon).’

MTV Movie & TV Awards 2023 WINNERS

BEST MOVIE

Avatar: The Way of Water

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Elvis

Nope

Scream VI (WINNER)

Smile

Top Gun: Maverick

 

BEST SHOW

Stranger Things

The Last of Us (WINNER)

The White Lotus

Wednesday

Wolf Pack

Yellowstone

Yellowjackets

 

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE

Austin Butler — Elvis

Florence Pugh — Don’t Worry Darling

KeKe Palmer — Nope

Michael B. Jordan — Creed III

Tom Cruise — Top Gun: Maverick (WINNER)

 

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW

Aubrey Plaza — The White Lotus

Christina Ricci — Yellowjackets

Jenna Ortega — Wednesday (WINNER)

Riley Keough — Daisy Jones & The Six

Sadie Sink — Stranger Things

Selena Gomez — Only Murders in the Building

 

BEST HERO

Diego Luna — Andor

Jenna Ortega — Wednesday

Paul Rudd — Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

Pedro Pascal — The Last Of Us (WINNER)

Tom Cruise — Top Gun: Maverick

 

BEST VILLAIN

Elizabeth Olsen — Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (WINNER)

Harry Styles — Don’t Worry Darling

Jamie Campbell Bower — Stranger Things

M3GAN — M3GAN

The Bear — Cocaine Bear

 

BEST KISS 

Anna Torv + Philip Prajoux — The Last Of Us

Harry Styles + David Dawson — My Policeman

Madison Bailey + Rudy Pankow — Outer Banks (WINNER)

Riley Keough + Sam Claflin — Daisy Jones & The Six

Selena Gomez + Cara Delevingne — Only Murders in the Building

 

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE

Adam Sandler — Murder Mystery 2 (WINNER)

Dylan O’Brien — Not Okay

Jennifer Coolidge — Shotgun Wedding

KeKe Palmer — Nope

Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary

 

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE

Bad Bunny — Bullet Train

Bella Ramsey — The Last Of Us

Emma D’Arcy — House of the Dragon

Joseph Quinn — Stranger Things (WINNER)

Rachel Sennott — Bodies Bodies Bodies

 

BEST FIGHT

Brad Pitt (Ladybug) vs. Bad Bunny (The Wolf) — Bullet Train

Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) vs. Ghostface — Scream VI (WINNER)

Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna) vs. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) — Stranger Things

Keanu Reeves (John Wick) vs. Everyone — John Wick 4

Escape from Narkina 5 — Andor

MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE

Jennifer Coolidge — The White Lotus (WINNER)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson — Cocaine Bear

Justin Long — Barbarian

Rachel Sennott — Bodies Bodies Bodies

Sosie Bacon — Smile

 

BEST DUO

Camila Mendes + Maya Hawke — Do Revenge

Jenna Ortega + Thing — Wednesday

Pedro Pascal + Bella Ramsey — The Last Of Us (WINNER)

Simona Tabasco + Beatrice Grannò — The White Lotus

Tom Cruise + Miles Teller — Top Gun: Maverick

 

BEST KICK-ASS CAST

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Outer Banks

Stranger Things (WINNER)

Teen Wolf: The Movie

 

BEST SONG

Demi Lovato — Still Alive (Scream VI)

Doja Cat — Vegas (Elvis)

Lady Gaga — Hold My Hand (Top Gun: Maverick)

OneRepublic — I Ain’t Worried (Top Gun: Maverick)

Rihanna — Lift Me Up (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Taylor Swift — Carolina (Where The Crawdads Sing) (WINNER)

 

BEST DOCU-REALITY SERIES

Jersey Shore Family Vacation

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition

The Kardashians (WINNER)

Vanderpump Rules

 

BEST COMPETITION SERIES

All-Star Shore

Big Brother

RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars (WINNER)

The Challenge: USA

The Traitors

 

BEST HOST

Drew Barrymore — The Drew Barrymore Show (WINNER)

Joel Madden — Ink Master

Nick Cannon — The Masked Singer

RuPaul — RuPaul’s Drag Race

Kelly Clarkson — The Kelly Clarkson Show

 

BEST REALITY ON-SCREEN TEAM (presented by SONIC®)

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Vinny Guadagnino, Pauly D (MVP) — Jersey Shore Family Vacation

Tori Deal and Devin Walker — The Challenge: Ride or Dies

RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage — RuPaul’s Drag Race

Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Scheana Shay, LaLa Kent — Vanderpump Rules (WINNER)

Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke — The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

 

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY

Halftime

Love, Lizzo

Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me (WINNER)

Sheryl

The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s American Pie

 

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