Variety (via Toonado.com) is reporting that Disney is being sued for £150,000/$190,000 following an injury which occurred on the set of its The Little Mermaid remake.
Special effects artist Christine Overs, who specialises in creating beach and snow sets, says she was sculpting a lagoon scene at Pinewood Studios in October 2020 "when she fell from a polystyrene step onto a concrete floor and broke her wrist."
Overs argues that the accident took place because Disney failed to "provide any adequate access to the set." The Disney-owned production company, Sandcastle Pictures, has admitted liability but now disputes the near-$200,000 sum.
The injury required surgery and the insertion of steel pins in Overs' arm, reportedly leaving her struggling to do up buttons and zips. As her work requires a deft touch, the 74-year-old argues that the accident has ruined what's left of her career and left her with a "substantial level of disability."
Her past credits include Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Dune, and Alien, while she was also once a member of Jim Henson's creature workshop.
In The Little Mermaid, the youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart.
She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
The Little Mermaid stars singer and actress Halle Bailey as Ariel, Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder, Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Art Malik as Sir Grimsby, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, with Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.
The movie is now available on Digital platforms and hits 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 19.