The live-action Disney remake of
1989’s “The Little Mermaid” has net to film a single scene, busy as it is right
now with casting. But already it has generated a lot of interested and a
not-insignificant degree of criticism by casting African-American R&B
artist Halle Bailey as the main character Ariel. While the production is
weathering the social media storm of “#notmyAriel” protesters pining for the Caucasian
redhead from the animated movie, they may have hit upon another casting choice that
may blunt the vitriol from fans. The remake has pegged a potential Prince Eric,
one that could make One Direction fans squee with joy.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is now in negotiations with
singer-songwriter and member of indefinite-hiatus boy band One Direction Harry
Styles to play the love interest of the titular “Little Mermaid” for their
live-action adaptation. If successful he will join Halle Bailey, Melissa
McCarthy, Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay in becoming part of this world, as it
were. The choice of Styles for this role is a natural evolution of the Prince
Eric character in all Disney iterations of the “Little Mermaid” story. Where
the original Prince Eric did not have any musical numbers, he does have songs
in the Broadway musical from the 2000s.
In terms of acting, Harry might
not be entirely out of his element either. Fans of the singer got to see him
really come into his own on the big screen back in 2017. That was the premiere
of Christopher Nolan’s war drama “Dunkirk,” where Styles portrayed a British
soldier driven by desperation to escape the encirclement of British and French
Forces by Nazi Germany on the titular French port during World War II. While he
got no individual accolades, “Dunkirk” did win several Oscars.
Prince Eric in “The Little
Mermaid” is the human royal figure that Ariel falls for after she saves him
from a sinking ship during a storm. He meets Ariel again after the mermaid has
traded her voice to get human legs from Ursula the Sea Witch. While he is
attracted to the mute Ariel, he is spurred by his vague memories of the mermaid’s
singing voice when Ursula disguises also herself as a human to ensure her deal
with Ariel is never fulfilled. This leads to an epic final confrontation at sea
where Eric becomes instrumental to saving the day.
Prior to being tapped for “The
Little Mermaid,” Harry Styles also auditioned for a planned biopic of Elvis
Presley, which eventually picked Austin Butler. The Disney remake, featuring
music by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, will begin filming in 2020, with
no premiere date set.
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