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| The Little Mermaid |
The British actor Jonah Hauer-King has expressed a strong desire to reprise his role as Prince Eric in a potential The Little Mermaid sequel, following the commercial success of the Disney live-action remake.
Jonah Hauer-King, who starred alongside Halle Bailey’s Ariel in the 2023 musical fantasy feature, indicated that he is eager to explore the next chapter of his character's journey if Disney decides to greenlight a follow-up film.
Exploring New Territories
While Disney has not officially announced a The Little Mermaid sequel to the Disney live-action remake, Jonah Hauer-King shared his thoughts on where the narrative could take Prince Eric and Ariel next. In the climax of the 2023 film, the couple marries and sets off to explore uncharted waters together, a narrative conclusion that leaves the door open for future adventures.
The actor noted that he would be fascinated to see how Prince Eric adapts to a life of joint exploration alongside Ariel, balancing his royal duties with his passion for the sea and discovery.
The original 1989 animated classic received a direct-to-video sequel in 2000, titled The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, which focused on Ariel and Prince Eric’s daughter, Melody. It remains unconfirmed whether Disney would look to that specific storyline for inspiration or develop an entirely original plot for a theatrical The Little Mermaid sequel.
Box Office Background
The 2023 Disney live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, directed by Rob Marshall, proved to be a significant commercial success for Disney. The film grossed over $569 million worldwide at the global box office, making it one of the higher-performing live-action reimagining efforts in the studio's recent catalog.
Disney has a history of pursuing sequels and spin-offs for its most successful live-action adaptations. The studio previously released Alice Through the Looking Glass following the success of 2010's Alice in Wonderland, and has moved forward with projects like Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to the 2019 photorealistic mega-hit.
Current Status of the Project
At this stage, a The Little Mermaid sequel remains speculative. Disney executives have not publicly confirmed whether a script is in development or if director Rob Marshall is slated to return.
The willingness of Jonah Hauer-King to return ensures that one half of the film's core romantic duo is publicly on board, though any official continuation would ultimately depend on studio approval, scheduling availability for the primary cast—including Halle Bailey—and a finalized screenplay.
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