Variety is reporting that Carrie and Kick-Ass star Chloë Grace Moretz will be taking the title role in Universal’s live-action version of The Little Mermaid, originally based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale.
“Not much is known about how this version will compare to previous versions of the Hans Christian Andersen story, which follows a mermaid who wished to become human after falling in love with a man she saved from drowning,” writes Variety.
Director Sofia Coppola was previously attached to the project, but left due to creative differences with the studio. Variety indicates that Moretz was the frontrunner for the role while Coppola was still committed to the film, although the trade also says “some insiders point to Coppola’s unwillingness to go with a star like Moretz as her impetus for parting ways with the project. Following Coppola’s exit, the studio still wanted Moretz for the role but did not want to make it official until a writer was attached to pen the final pass at the script.” That writer is Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Trash, Love Actually), who is in talks to work on the screenplay.
Whether or not this troubled production actually gets off the ground is yet to be determined.