Harry Styles in 'The Little Mermaid' Isn't Happening After All

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(Image credit: Karwai Tang)

By Emily Dixon published 14 August 19

I'm so terribly sorry to be the bearer of extremely bad news of a Wednesday morning, but it turns out the rumors are definitively false: Harry Styles is not playing Prince Eric in Disney's live action remake of The Little Mermaid, according to People. There, the bandaid's ripped off. The healing can begin!

After the delightful news broke that Halle Bailey will play Ariel in the upcoming remake, the rumor mill began to churn once more, and soon half the internet was convinced that her love interest would be played by Harry Styles. Last night, it seemed like those rumors were confirmed, as Cosmopolitan reports. The DisInsider, a website self-described as an "exclusive daily source of Disney news," announced, "The DisInsider has been recently informed that Styles has officially signed on to the project."

Well, according to People, the DisInsider was MisInformed: Harry was indeed in talks about the role, but ultimately, he turned it down. "While he is a fan of the project, he has respectfully declined the offer," an unnamed source told People. I'm just going to say it, Harry: I'm hurt!

Halle Bailey on her new #LittleMermaid role: "I don't pay attention to the negativity; I just feel like this role is something bigger than me" https://t.co/pidgYYQ0lw pic.twitter.com/rmUxbFSuYYAugust 7, 2019

Still, there's no reason to despair: We've got a flawless Ariel in Halle Bailey, who recently addressed the racist backlash against her casting. Speaking at Variety's 2019 Power of Young Hollywood event, she said, "I feel like I’m dreaming and I’m just grateful. I don’t pay attention to the negativity."

"I just feel like this role is something bigger than me and greater. It’s going to be beautiful. I’m just so excited to be a part of it," she said. Halle, I'm so excited too!

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Emily Dixon

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.