Harry Styles was officially approached to play the role of Prince Eric in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, but he turned it down.
Earlier this month, the singer and actor was reported to be in early negotiations to play the iconic role, voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes in the 1989 animation, but Variety has since confirmed he has since made an “amicable” decision to pass.
Disney is said to be looking at other options with a view to making a decision very soon.
Prince Eric is the human who Ariel falls in love with after she saves him from a shipwreck. She then makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula – who will be played in the remake by Melissa McCarthy – 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 was planning on having Styles perform either solo songs or a duet with Halle Bailey, who will play Ariel.
The animated 1989 original won best original song and score Oscars for Alan Menken, who will compose a new song with lyrics from Lin-Manuel Miranda for the remake.
Styles 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.
Other stars rumoured to appear in the film, directed by Rob Marshall, include Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina.
