Harry Styles in talks to play Prince Eric in Disney's 'Little Mermaid' remake

Harry Styles attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" exhibition on Monday, May 6, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Harry Styles (Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Following news that Harry Styles was up for playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's forthcoming biopic, the One Direction singer now has another possible role in the offing.

According to Variety, he's now in talks to play Prince Eric in Disney's new remake of its 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid.

Read more: Who is Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey?

It was announced last week that R&B singer Halle Bailey will play the lead role of Ariel, the mermaid who wishese she could become a human, in the movie, to be helmed by movie musical veteran Rob Marshall.

Ariel and Prince Eric - <i>The Little Mermaid</i> poster detail (Disney)
Ariel and Prince Eric - The Little Mermaid poster detail (Disney)

Meanwhile, Melissa McCarthy is in line to play Ariel's evil aunt Ursula.

With Marshall behind the camera, music will be provided by Disney legend Alan Menken, with lyrics from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Read more: Original Ariel stands up for Little Mermaid casting

The original movie, which featured the songs Under The Sea and Kiss The Girl, was credited with reviving Disney after a series of animated miss hits.

Meanwhile, Styles has been hotly pursuing his acting career while One Direction remain on hold.

He made his debut in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk in 2017, though he missed out on the Elvis role to Austin Butler, it was announced this week.

Styles’ debut role in Nolan’s WW2 thriller was roundly praised by critics, with the Gaurdian’s Peter Bradshaw calling it “a perfectly strong acting debut”.