The Little Mermaid, set to be released in May 2023, is facing a legal challenge as Disney is being sued for £150,000 ($190,000) for a crew injury on the film’s sets. The injured party is Christine Overs, a special effects (SFX) artist, who suffered a broken wrist after falling from a polystyrene step onto a concrete floor. Overs claims that the accident has had a significant impact on her daily life and career, as she now struggles with basic tasks due to the injury. Disney’s production company, Sandcastle Pictures, has accepted liability for the fall but disputes the claimed amount.
Overs, who has worked on major films like Dune, Alien, Superman IV, and Golden Eye, among others, was sculpting a lagoon scene for The Little Mermaid at Pinewood Studios when the incident occurred in October 2020. According to The Times of London, the SFX artist fell because Disney failed to provide adequate access to the set, leading to the accident.
As a result of the wrist injury, Overs had to undergo surgery and have steel pins inserted into her arm. The injury has left her with reduced mobility, making simple tasks like buttoning clothes or zipping up difficult. Overs describes the injury as ruining the last stage of her career and causing a substantial level of disability. She continues to experience pain, swelling, and disturbed sleep due to the fall.
Sandcastle Pictures, the Disney-owned production company responsible for The Little Mermaid, has accepted liability for the fall but disagrees with the amount claimed by Overs. The case is now being heard in the Central London County Court.
In conclusion, Disney is facing a lawsuit for a crew injury on the sets of The Little Mermaid. The SFX artist, Christine Overs, suffered a broken wrist after falling due to inadequate access to the set. Overs claims that the injury has severely affected her daily life, career, and overall mobility. While Sandcastle Pictures has accepted liability, the company disputes the amount being claimed. The outcome of the lawsuit will have implications for both Disney and the injured artist.
