‘Aquamarine’ Sequel Series Brings Back Jake McDorman as Raymond Opposite Half-Mermaid Lead

Disney’s upcoming sequel series to the 2006 film "Aquamarine" is set to reignite early 2000s nostalgia with a star-studded cast. The series will bring back Jake McDorman as Raymond, the former lifeguard and heartthrob from the original film, alongside Kenzi Richardson as half-mermaid Coral, daughter of Aquamarine and Raymond. McDorman reprises his role as the single dad raising Coral, while Emma Roberts, who starred in the original film, will executive produce and guest star as her original character, Claire Brown.

The series will also feature a new group of regulars, including Briella Guiza, Theodore Dalton, and Annika Reese, adding fresh faces to the Disney lineup. Disney+ greenlit a pilot for the sequel series in June, with "The Bold Type" creator Sarah Watson taking on the role of writer and executive producer alongside Susan Cartsonis, who previously produced "Aquamarine." Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, the director of the original film, is attached to return, serving as both director and executive producer for the new series.

The pilot's logline sets the stage for the story: "When teenaged Coral moves to a dreamy seaside town, she begins unraveling the truth behind her mother’s disappearance—and discovers her mother was a mermaid, awakening magical powers in Coral just as secrets beneath the waves threaten to surface." In this reboot, Raymond grapples with Coral’s growing independence while mourning the loss of Aquamarine, who remains missing in the sequel 20 years later.

Richardson will play the thoughtful and artistic teenager Coral, who must navigate adolescence, identity, and the absence of the mother she never knew. The series promises to deliver a blend of nostalgia, magical elements, and relatable coming-of-age drama for audiences.