Yesterday, the internet blew up with the oh-so-exciting news that Harry Styles was officially confirmed to play Prince Eric in Disney‘s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Two major movie theater chains — Regal and AMC Theaters — both tweeted the news, along with a handful of publications. However, these tweets all got deleted soon after they went out.
As of this morning, the pendulum has swung the other way, with The Wrap reporting that Styles officially turned down an offer to play the role.
Technically, Disney hasn’t made any comments on Styles’ casting (or lack thereof) at this point.
Actress and singer Halle Bailey is confirmed to play Ariel while Melissa McCarthy is rumored to be playing the evil Ursula. This new version of The Little Mermaid will be directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee. It is set to include songs both original songs and new songs with music by composer Alan Menken and lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda.
So, now that Styles won’t be playing Prince Eric, who do you think Disney should choose for the role?
Photo: @Harry_Styles and Walt Disney Studios
