Plainfield's Melissa McCarthy In New Film, Talks 'Little Mermaid'

HOLLYWOOD, CA —Plainfield native Melissa McCarthy's new film "Thunder Force" will make its streaming debut on Netflix on April 9, Variety reports. In promoting the film, which is directed by McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone, the "Bridesmaids" actress also spoke about her role as Ursula in the upcoming live action version of "The Little Mermaid," which already is in production.

Netflix recently released the trailer for "Thunder Force," in which McCarthy will star with Octavia Spencer. The movie is about childhood best friends who reunite as an unlikely crime-fighting superhero duo when one invents a formula that gives ordinary people superpowers. When a villain known as "The King" arrives in town, it's up to the Thunder Force to step up and save Chicago from the wretches of evil.

The film also features actors Jason Bateman and Bobby Cannavale. According to Variety, Falcone previously has worked with McCarthy on films such as "Tammy," "The Boss," "Life of the Party," and HBO Max's "Superintelligence."

While promoting "Thunder Force," McCarthy, Spencer and Falcone appeared on Wednesday's SiriusXM Town Hall special hosted by Jess Cagle. McCarthy offered an update about "The Little Mermaid."

"I mean it's just, I still kind of can't believe it's happening," McCarthy said "Like I've already recorded, you know, I did all my rehearsals in London. I'm going back in about a month to actually get to do the scenes that we rehearsed. It's like, you know, it just never in my life did I think I'd have a 60-foot clamshell and like a couple numbers in a movie, like it's incredible. I'm really excited about it."

"The Little Mermaid" reportedly also stars Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina and Jonah Hauer-King.

McCarthy, 50, grew up in Plainfield and went to high school at St. Francis Academy in Joliet. In the past, the actress has given shoutouts to her hometown while accepting the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and during an appearance "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." McCarthy also said she based her character in the sitcom "Mike & Molly" on her fifth-grade teacher Lynne Breen at St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield.

Read more at Variety.com.