Harry Styles is reportedly in talks for the role of Prince Eric in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the singer and actor is in early negotiations to play the iconic role, which was voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes in the 1989 animation.
Prince Eric is the human who Ariel falls in love with in the film, after she saves him from a shipwreck. She then makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to exchange her voice for human legs, so she can try to make him fall in love with her.
While Eric did not perform songs in the original film, it seems as though Disney would have Styles perform either solo songs or a duet with Bailey – possibly inspired by the 2000s Broadway musical version, where the character did sing.
The animated 1989 original won best original song and score Oscars for Alan Menken. Menken will update his score and compose a new song with lyrics from Lin-Manuel Miranda for the remake.
Styles, who rose to fame as a member of boyband One Direction before embarking on a successful solo career (he made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk), would star opposite fellow singer Halle Bailey of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle.
Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina have also been reported to be in talks for the film.
The Little Mermaid is being directed by Rob Marshall, with the aim for an early 2020 production start.
