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17th Jul 2019

Harry Styles is reportedly ‘in talks’ to star in the live action Little Mermaid

Keeley Ryan

Looks like Ariel may have found her prince.

Harry Styles is reportedly in “early talks” to star in Disney’s live action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the singer-and-actor would be playing the iconic role of Prince Eric.

In case you need a little refresher about The Little Mermaid’s prince, Eric is the human whom Ariel falls in love with after she saves him from drowning.

She makes a deal with Ursula to trade her voice for legs, so she can go to the surface and have a chance to get him to fall in love with her.

And while Prince Eric doesn’t have any songs in the 1989 animated classic, the publication notes that this wouldn’t rule him out of singing in the new version of the film.

After all, when the story hit Broadway in the 2000s, Eric performed a number of songs – and even had two solos.

 

Elsewhere in the casting process, R&B singer Halle Bailey – from Chloe x Halle fame – has been cast as Ariel.

Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina are said to be in talks for the roles of Ariel’s friends Flounder and Scuttle, respectively.

And Melissa McCarthy is said to be in early talks to help some poor unfortunate souls and take on the role of the sea witch, Ursula.

Disney are said to be keen to make it contemporary and compelling with its casting choices – but, of course, they want to make sure they stay true to the original.

The director of Mary Poppins Returns, Rob Marshall, is set to helm the picture.

The film will reportedly feature a mix of songs from the original animated tale as well as some new ones – with Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and songwriter Alan Menken working together.

There has been no word yet on when the movie will become part of our world, but we’re definitely excited.