Jake McDorman has revealed new details about the Aquamarine television reboot, including how his character Raymond has changed since the 2006 film.
The 40-year-old actor is returning as the lifeguard, but the new story will follow Raymond as a single father to his teenage daughter, Carol, whom he shares with the mermaid Aquamarine.
Jake McDorman on the Aquamarine television reboot
Speaking at a recent event, McDorman said he was pleased to have been invited back for the project. “I was flattered to be asked to return. It’s not called Raymond, it’s called Aquamarine. But I do think the entry point that they found was really smart,” he told People.
The circumstances surrounding Aquamarine will form a central mystery in the reboot. “Raymond as a single dad, what happened to Aqua, that’s the big mystery,” McDorman said.
He explained that returning to the role as a 40-year-old lifeguard would not have felt convincing without a significant change to the character. “Him being a single dad, there’s a character arc that’s happened off-screen,” he said.
McDorman added that Raymond is now “a little world-weary” and protective, possibly overprotective, of Carol. He said the character had lost some of his former confidence, describing the shift as something that “felt playable”.
“It felt true to the past 20 years and just growing up, like with that comes wisdom,” the actor said. “But a lot of wisdom comes from making mistakes, being disappointed and having your heart broken. So that felt playable, and that made it an easy yes, and we’re all very excited.”
In the original film, Sara Paxton played Aquamarine, who befriended teenage girls portrayed by Emma Roberts and JoJo.
