Chloë Grace Moretz has landed the starring role in Working Title and Universal’s live-action adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, according to Variety.
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At one time, Sofia Coppola (Lost In Translation) was attached to direct, but she left the project in June due to “creative differences.” In Variety’s report, their sources claim that part of Coppola’s exit was because of her “unwillingness to go with a star like Moretz,” who was considered the frontrunner for a long time.
No director is currently attached to the project, nor is there a release date set.
Mortez, 18, is best known for playing Hit-Girl in the Kick-Ass films, but she’s also garnered attention for her roles in Let Me In, Hugo, Dark Shadows, Carrie, If I Stay and The Equalizer. Moretz also has several high-profile films on the horizon: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Brain on Fire and The Fifth Wave
Screenwriter Richard Curtis is in talks to polish The Little Mermaid script, which has already been worked on by Caroline Thompson, Kelly Marcel and Abi Morgan.
This version of The Little Mermaid is said to be closer to Hans Christian Anderson’s 1837 fairy tale, which the popular Disney animated film of the same name was only loosely-based. In both tales the mermaid gives up her singing voice to a sea witch in exchange for a human form so that she can win over her Prince. The original fable has a much darker conclusion.
