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Harry Styles declines Prince Eric role in 'Little Mermaid' remake, reports say

Despite tweets by AMC and Regal movie theater chains, the One Direction singer ‘respectfully passed’ on the project that will star Atlanta’s Halle Bailey as Ariel.

Harry Styles Turns Down Role of Prince Eric in ‘The Little Mermaid’
 'Variety' reports that Styles has passed on appearing in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid.” Rumors swirled that he would star as Prince Eric, the love interest of Ariel, who will be played by Halle Bailey. Both AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas wrongly tweeted he would appear in the flick. "Prince Harry" was the #1 trending topic on Twitter on Tuesday night. Rumors of the One Direction singer’s possible involvem
By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Aug 9, 2019

It looks like Harry Styles won't be Ariel's prince, after all.

According to Variety, the actor and One Direction singer has decided not to play Eric in Disney's "Little Mermaid" remake.

"Although he is a fan of the project, he has respectfully passed," a Styles representative told Rolling Stone on Tuesday.

The news came shortly after rumors, fueled in part by inaccurate tweets by the AMC and Regal movie theater chains, swirled on social media that Styles would be starring in the film.

Disney announced last month that Chloe X Halle singer and Atlanta native Halle Bailey, 19, had been cast as Ariel in the live-action remake of the 1989 classic, which will be directed by Rob Marshall, according to the Wrap. Marshall, Marc Platt, John DeLuca and Lin-Manuel Miranda are producing the reboot.

» Halle Bailey opens up about backlash from 'Little Mermaid' casting

Melissa McCarthy, Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay also are in talks to appear in the film, according to previous reports from Deadline and Variety.

Read more here.

» Donald Glover sends message of support to 'Little Mermaid's' Halle Bailey

» Disney's Freeform pens open letter defending 'Little Mermaid' casting

» Why the furor over a black mermaid?

About the Author

Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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