The tide is turning—and it seems mermaids are ready to make waves once again.
Over the past few years, audiences have been embracing a growing sense of 2000s nostalgia. Whether it is revisiting favorite fashions, music or beloved family films, there has been a clear desire to reconnect with the heartfelt, character-driven stories that defined the decade. At the same time, girl-focused fantasy has been finding renewed momentum, with magical adventures and coming-of-age tales once again capturing the attention of viewers across generations.
Now, Disney is diving back into one of those fan-favorite worlds.
Disney+ and Disney Channel have officially handed a pilot order to an Aquamarine television series, bringing the beloved 2006 fantasy film back to screens in an entirely new way. Making the announcement even more exciting for longtime fans, original star Emma Roberts will return as Claire Brown in a guest starring role while also serving as an executive producer.
Rather than retelling the original story, the pilot follows teenager Coral after she moves to a picturesque seaside town. As she begins investigating the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Coral discovers that her mother was a mermaid herself—awakening magical abilities within her just as long-hidden secrets beneath the ocean begin rising to the surface.
Behind the project is The Bold Type creator Sarah Watson, with original film director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum returning to direct and executive produce alongside producer Susan Cartsonis, helping connect this new chapter to the film that fans have continued to cherish for nearly two decades.
The announcement also feels perfectly timed. Disney has continued expanding its lineup of fantasy and young adult programming through projects like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, while also revisiting beloved family properties for a new generation. Aquamarine fits naturally alongside that growing slate, offering another magical, female-led adventure centered around friendship, family and discovering who you are.
For many viewers, the return also brings back memories of an era when stories like Aquamarine and H2O: Just Add Water helped make mermaids one of the defining fantasy icons of the 2000s. With mythology, magic and coastal adventures once again finding their place in popular culture, it feels like the perfect time for these enchanting underwater worlds to resurface.
While the original film may have arrived as a charming summer fantasy, its lasting legacy has transformed it into a true cult favorite. Now, nearly twenty years later, Disney is hoping a whole new generation will discover that same sense of wonder—while giving longtime fans another reason to head back to the beach.