Nearly 20 years after Aquamarine introduced audiences to a mermaid searching for true love, Disney is returning to the world of the 2006 coming-of-age favorite with a new television continuation. Disney+ and Disney Channel ordered the project in June, with filming taking place in North Carolina.
The sequel shifts the story to Coral, the teenage daughter of Aquamarine and Raymond. Kenzi Richardson will play Coral, who has been raised by Raymond as a single father. According to the official premise, Coral begins investigating the disappearance of the mother she never knew. Her search leads to an even bigger discovery: Aquamarine was a mermaid, making Coral half-mermaid and awakening magical abilities of her own.
Jake McDorman is officially reprising his role as Raymond and will also serve as an executive producer. Emma Roberts is returning as Claire Brown and is also executive producing the project. Roberts has said reading the new script made her emotional and that she is excited to return to the world of Aquamarine while introducing it to a new generation.
Coral will also have a new group of teenagers surrounding her. Briella Guiza plays Mia, Coral’s edgy and fiercely authentic best friend. Theodore Dalton plays August, a soulful surfer and Coral’s love interest, while Annika Reese plays Paige, the stylish queen bee of the local beach club.
There may also be a connection between Mia and the original movie’s setting. Mia’s mother manages the beach club where she and Coral meet. Since Claire lived with her grandparents at the Capri Beach Club in the original film, the detail raises questions about whether Mia could somehow be connected to Claire, although nothing has been confirmed.
Several familiar names are also returning behind the camera. Original Aquamarine director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum is back, The Bold Type creator Sarah Watson wrote the new installment, and original producer Susan Cartsonis returns as an executive producer.
Several original cast members remain question marks. Sara Paxton has not been confirmed to return as Aquamarine, and Arielle Kebbel has not been announced to reprise Cecilia Banks. JoJo has said there have been preliminary conversations about potentially returning as Hailey.
Disney has not announced a release date yet.
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