Harry Styles will not be playing Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid live-action remake contrary to reports

Harry Styles will not be playing Prince Eric in the upcoming The Little Mermaid live-action remake!

While he was formally offered the part, the 25-year-old musician has reportedly turned down the role in the musical, where he would have starred opposite Halle Bailey, The Wrap reports.

Yesterday, there were reports that Harry had officially signed on for the film, and the internet went crazy. But it proved that both AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas who initially tweeted the now-deleted news were off-mark.

Harry would have joined other rumoured cast members Javier Bardem as King Triton, Awkwafina as Scuttle, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula.

While no official word on the rest of the casting has been revealed from Walt Disney Studios, it is likely that further announcements will be made at next weekend’s D23 Expo, where director Rob Marshall is expected to dish about the new film. The annual D23 Expo will go from August 23rd until August 25th in Anaheim, Calif.

Had he accepted, Harry Style would have starred opposite Harry Bailey, cast as Ariel, the Mermaid.

With production expected to begin in early 2020, The Little Mermaid live-action remake will feature the 1989 animated classic’s original songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as new songs with music by Menken and lyrics by Miranda.