“The Little Mermaid” director Rob Marshall has revealed that Disney approached Harry Styles to play the part of Prince Eric in the upcoming live-action film.
He also shared that the actor ultimately turned down the role, choosing to go for darker films and movies that had nothing to do with the musical genre.
The singer previously had a relationship with “Book Smart” director and actress Olivia Wilde and has seemingly moved on to Emily Ratajkowski.
He is yet to confirm his relationship with the model despite the two having been seen locking lips on the streets of Tokyo.
Keep on reading to learn more.
‘The Little Mermaid’ Director Confirms He Met With Harry Styles
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Marshall addressed rumors that the showrunners of Disney’s upcoming live-action film “The Little Mermaid” courted Styles to play the part of Prince Eric.
The film director confirmed that the speculations were true and shared reasons why the singer ultimately turned down the role.
“We met with him. He was lovely. What a wonderful guy,” Marshall told the publication, per Variety. “But at the end of the day, he felt like he wanted to go off and do the movies that he ended up doing, which were sort of darker.”
Marshall also said that Styles wanted to “stretch himself” by not doing something related to the musical genre he is already known for.
“For a lot of young musical people like Harry, you’re trying to carve your way, and you don’t wanna be seen as a singer, necessarily,” the director remarked.
Rob Marshall Is Happy About His Current Casting
Losing out on the opportunity to get Styles on his Disney project hasn’t dampened Marshall’s prospects about “The Little Mermaid,” which debuts in theaters on May 26.
He revealed that he is “so happy to have two young, new people in the film,” referencing 27-year-old Jonah Hauer-King, who now plays the role of Prince Eric opposite lead star Halle Bailey’s Ariel.
King is best known for starring in PBS’ “Little Women” adaptation. At the same time, Bailey has made a name for herself in the music industry alongside her sister Chloe Bailey but has taken up more interest in the acting industry recently.
Meanwhile, Styles has appeared in the queer drama “My Policeman” and Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry, Darling,” where he played supporting roles.
Harry Styles Previously Dated Olivia Wilde
While Styles’ appearance in both films added to his movie experience, the pop singer also got to experience love while working on Wilde’s second feature film set.
The mother of two and Styles started a whirlwind romance shortly after they met on the “Don’t Worry Darling” film set, which lasted nearly two years.
They went their separate ways in November, and it was reported that the breakup was a “very amicable decision.”
Styles’ hectic touring schedule and Wilde’s intention to focus on her children and her work reportedly spurred their decisions to end their relationship.
A source said of the duo, per People magazine, “She and Harry are good friends; there’s no animosity whatsoever.”
Who Is Harry Styles Presently Dating?
Styles has seemingly moved on to model Ratajkowski, as the two have been spotted hanging out severally, including enjoying a PDA-filled moment on the streets of Tokyo. The “Watermelon Sugar” crooner was at the Japanese capital as part of his Love on Tour concert series, which resumes in May.
Styles and the model are yet to publicly confirm their romance, despite the PDA moment further fueling the rumors.
However, Ratajkowski did hint that she had started seeing someone during her appearance on the Going Mental with Eileen Kelly podcast. “I just started dating someone that I’m kinda like, so that feels different,” she said per People. “He’s kinda great.”
She also revealed that trying to date has been challenging due to the public and media’s focus on her life.
“The public element of it has been a little hard to navigate. Talk about really not caring what people think. People are so wrong all the time,” the mother of one said.