Prince Eric's Hopeful Splash: Jonah Hauer-King Open to Returning for Live-Action Little Mermaid Sequel

Remember Disney’s live-action take on The Little Mermaid? It feels like just yesterday we were all buzzing about it, and now, it seems the conversation is drifting back towards the possibility of a sequel. And guess who’s throwing his hat into the ring with a really encouraging update? None other than Jonah Hauer-King, who brought Prince Eric to life on the big screen.

Speaking exclusively with ScreenRant, the actor, currently making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival for his upcoming film The Face of Horror, sounded genuinely open to reprising his princely role. When asked about a potential second voyage under the sea, his response was wonderfully simple and direct: "Why not?" He went on to add, with a casual, almost playful air, that he's "down" for it, especially if his co-star, the fantastic Halle Bailey, who enchanted us all as Ariel, is "up for it" too. It’s that kind of collaborative spirit that really makes you hope, isn't it?

And he's certainly not alone in this sentiment. Previously, Halle Bailey herself has voiced interest in returning to Ariel's fins, a desire apparently echoed by studio executives. Even director Rob Marshall, who helmed the 2023 remake, has expressed enthusiasm for continuing the story. So, you have this wonderful alignment of the core creative team, all seemingly ready to dive back in.

But here's the rub, as they say. When we look back at the 2023 film itself, things get a little complicated, don't they? While it swam to a worldwide box office total of $569.6 million, which sounds impressive on paper, reports indicated that Disney actually faced a roughly $5 million loss after all was said and done. It had moderate domestic success, sure, but internationally, it didn't quite make the splash everyone hoped for.

Then there's the shadow of the past. It's worth remembering that the original animated Little Mermaid actually did get a sequel, The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. And, well, let's just say it wasn't exactly a critical darling, nor a fan favorite. It was, to put it mildly, widely panned. This historical context probably weighs a bit on Disney's decision-making, wouldn't you think? It's a tricky balance between fan demand and avoiding past mistakes.

Despite all this eagerness from the talent, Disney itself remains surprisingly tight-lipped. There's been no official greenlight for The Little Mermaid 2, and the studio hasn't publicly commented on whether they plan to dip their toes back into these waters. It’s a classic waiting game, really, with a lot of factors playing into whether Ariel and Eric will ever grace our screens again in a new, live-action adventure.

So, while the siren call for a sequel is clearly being heard by the cast, the ultimate decision rests, as always, with the mouse house. Fans, like us, can only watch and wonder, hoping that maybe, just maybe, we'll get to see more of Prince Eric and Ariel's journey in the future. Fingers crossed, right?