Harry Styles, Prince Eric, The Little Mermaid
[Photos by: Harry Styles/Spotify, Prince Eric/Disney]

Harry Styles in talks to join live-action 'Little Mermaid' as Prince Eric

Disney‘s forthcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has been popping up all over the internet with casting rumors and suggestions. Earlier this month, singer and actress Halle Bailey, who is part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, was announced as Ariel herself. Now, it looks like Disney may be in early talks with a potential Prince Eric in One Direction’s Harry Styles.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Styles is in early negotiations to take the role of Ariel’s Prince in the upcoming film.

Currently, Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina are also in talks to take roles in the remake.

The remake will be directed by Rob Marshall, who has just finished Mary Poppins Returns for Disney.

The original film many grew up on was first released in 1989, starring Jodi Benson as Ariel and Pat Carroll as Ursula. Following its debut, the film became a short-lived TV series of the same name. A film sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, was released in 2000. A prequel, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, came eight years later in 2008.

The new film will incorporate songs from the original film as well as some new songs from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

While Prince Eric didn’t sing any songs in the 1989 original film, he does perform several songs in the 2000s Broadway musical version.

If Styles takes the Disney Prince role, it seems likely at least one of the new songs will be created for Eric.

Production for the film is set to begin early 2020.

Disney is pulling in bank on their live-action remakes with recently released Aladdin grossing $820 million worldwide. The Lion King, which debuts this week, is expected to pull in even more.

Would you like to see Harry Styles fill the role of Prince Eric? Sound off in the comments below!

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