Only a day after the news of Harry Styles being in talks to play Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation broke, we are now hearing from a source close to the project that Javier Bardem is in talks to play Ariel’s father King Triton.
We are also hearing that the film will focus more on Ariel’s (Halle Bailey) mother and that Disney is in the process of casting for that role. In addition to Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina are also in talks to star and voice Ursula the Sea Witch, Flounder the Guppy and Scuttle the Seagull.
We have heard multiple names for the role of King Triton, but our sources say it is indeed Bardem in talks. It should be noted that this source also let us know last week about Harry Styles.
Directed by Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns), production for the film is expected to begin next January, however, it does not have a release date as of yet.
Released in 1989, Disney’s animated classic centered on a young mermaid named Ariel who is captivated by the world upon the surface. When she falls in love with a human prince, she makes a deal with a villainous sea witch to become human herself and earn his love before the agreed time runs out.
