Who Played Sebastian the Crab in Disney’s The Little Mermaid 2023 Remake?

Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2023. The 1989 animated classic tells the story of Ariel a mermaid princess who makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human so she can be with Prince Eric. One of the most beloved characters from the original is Sebastian the Jamaican-accented crab who serves as King Triton’s advisor and Ariel’s caretaker. Fans are eager to find out who is playing the iconic role in the new version.

The actor bringing Sebastian to life in the 2023 The Little Mermaid is none other than Daveed Diggs Diggs is best known for his Tony and Grammy-winning performance as Thomas Jefferson and Marquis de Lafayette in the smash Broadway hit Hamilton His unique rapping talents and energetic onstage presence made him a standout in the cast. Diggs is an exciting choice to take on the musically gifted crab.

When director Rob Marshall first approached Diggs about auditioning for Sebastian, the actor was hesitant He assumed the filmmakers were just asking him to be polite Diggs shared that he had a hard time envisioning himself in the role, as Samuel E. Wright’s baritone Jamaican take on the character was so iconic to him growing up. However, after workshoping some songs and scenes, Marshall convinced Diggs he was right for the part.

To develop his version of Sebastian’s voice, Diggs worked extensively with dialect coaches. He settled on a Caribbean accent with traces of Trinidadian, as a nod to the late Tony Hall who mentored Diggs on calypso music. Vocally, Diggs aimed to honor the original Sebastian that fans love, while still making the role his own. He also faced the daunting task of putting his own spin on classic songs like “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.”

Diggs revealed that recording “Under the Sea” with his untrained vocals was nerve-wracking. But composer Alan Menken and director Marshall encouraged him to make the track his own. Having Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel, sing harmonies in the studio only added to Diggs’ anxieties. However, that collaborative spirit contributed to his favorite part of the song. Diggs also got to flex his rapping skills for a brand new original number called “Scuttlebutt” that he performs with Awkwafina, who voices Scuttle the seagull.

In an interview with Variety, Diggs explained his takeaway from getting to be part of such a massive production like The Little Mermaid. He was grateful director Marshall fostered a sense of realism and chemistry amongst the cast during rehearsals. Building believable relationships helped ground the fantastical scenes shot on elaborate underwater sets. At the premiere, Diggs admitted he was brought to tears hearing Bailey sing, and in awe of the CGI starfish choreography. But most importantly, he’s already gotten the seal of approval from the kids in his life.

After early positive buzz for his comedic performance, it’s clear that Daveed Diggs was the perfect choice to bring Sebastian to life in Disney’s 2023 The Little Mermaid. Though he faced immense pressure stepping into such an iconic role, Diggs succeeded by paying respect to the original while also leaving his own unique stamp. Fans of the animated classic, and newcomers alike, are sure to be delighted by his fresh take on the beloved singing crab. Diggs’ natural charisma and musicality are a winning combination for this highly anticipated reimagining.