In 2019, Harry Styles made headlines when it was announced that he had been cast as Prince Eric in Disney’s animated remake of The Little Mermaid. But hopes were dashed when it was confirmed that the singer-songwriter did not agree to the role. As the director of the film Rob Marshall explained, this happened because Harry wanted to build a completely different career in the film industry.
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“We met him. He was nice. A wonderful guy,” Marshall told Entertainment Weekly. “But at the end of the day, he really felt like he wanted to leave and focus on movies that are a lot darker than ‘The Little Mermaid.'” He was referring to the singer’s 2022 R-rated movies contains adult material such as adult activities, strong language, intense graphic violence, drug use, and depictions of nudity.) They were the Grammy Award-winning “Don’t Worry Darling” and “My Policeman” also made a cameo appearance in the 2021 Marvel film Eternals. Styles also auditioned for the role of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis, but the role went to Austin Butler.
“A lot of young musical people like Harry are trying to forge their own career path without wanting to be seen as just a singer,” added Marshall. “So he was really looking for an opportunity to do something in acting, but not in the musical genre (the film will reportedly have a lot of music) to show his versatility.”
Styles explained his decision: “I want to make music and not focus on it for a while. But everyone involved in making this movie is amazing, so I think it’s going to be a great movie. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy watching it.”
In the film, British actor John Hower-King was chosen for the role of Prince Eric, dark-skinned actress Halle Bailey for the role of underwater princess Ariel. Marshall said the Prince Eric actor has a “sweetness” and “deep passion” that fits the character. Bailey, on the other hand, possesses a rare combination of heart, youth, and innocence, as well as an expressive voice. All these qualities are necessary to play this iconic role.
Hower-King, 27, recalled Bailey knocking on his trailer door, wishing him luck and hoping to see him again after they auditioned together, while three other actors were also in the running for the lead role.
“I didn’t take her kindness to me as an indication. I just assumed she was a nice person and would have done it for anyone,” he said. “But of course I wondered, ‘What does it all mean?’ Is that a clue? Was she knocking on everyone’s door?” He added, saying: “We became very, very close friends – and still are.”
The film is on cinema screens from May 26!
