Harry Styles, who shot to fame with his band One Direction, but is now pursuing a solo career, is expected to be cast to play the object of Ariel’s fatal attraction, Prince Eric, in the remake of the Little Mermaid. Deadline reported that the 25-year-old is in negotiations to take on the part of the handsome man that the little mermaid was ready to sacrifice her voice for in the 1989 Disney cartoon hit.
If he lands the role, it will not be his first experience in cinema, as he already starred in Christopher Nolan’s war drama “Dunkirk” in 2017. As soon as reports about his participation in Rob Marshall’s live adaptation emerged, netizens went crazy.
However, many viewed the report critically and noted that Styles was definitely not their Prince Eric.
Meanwhile, the Internet has been floating the idea that BTS’ Jimin is tailor-made for the role of Prince Eric, because “he’s a prince of K-pop” and he “has the hair and the jawline”. Fans implored “The Little Mermaid” producers to keep their faith in the diversity of the cast after the bombshell announcement that US R&B singer Halle Bailey had been picked to play Ariel sparked a heated online debate.
Hot on the heels of remakes of Aladdin and The Lion King, Disney has opted to give The Little Mermaid a similar reboot, with the film set to be directed by Rob Marshall of Mary Poppins Returns.
Production is expected to begin in early 2020, Disney confirmed, with more announcements coming in the next few weeks.
Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay are also said to be in talks for Scuttle the seagull and Flounder the fish respectively, while Melissa McCarthy is negotiating to portray the witch Ursula, as some reports suggest.