It might have lost director Sofia Coppola, but Universal and Working Title are pushing ahead on development with their take on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most famous fairy tales. And now the companies have a star, with Chloe Moretz aboard The Little Mermaid.
Having already been through Coppola and, before her, Pan’s Joe Wright to call the shots, this new Mermaid is still in want of a director. But at least now it has someone to play the young aquatic woman who dreams of a life among humans but makes a terrible deal to have her wish come true. And it’s close to having a new writer, with Working Title stalwart Richard Curtis in talks to tackle script duty. Quite what his take will be is anyone’s guess at this point – but we figure the plan is still to take a darker tone than the Disney animated version.
Moretz had been the top choice for the role when Coppola was attached, though according to Variety’s sources, part of the director’s reason for leaving was a preference for an unknown name in the lead. Whoever ends up directing will have the actress aboard as a given. She’s been busy shooting Bad Neighbours 2 with Seth Rogen and Zac Efron and will next be seen in alien invasion thriller The 5th Wave, which attacks our screens on January 22.