Simultaneously expanding its animated-to-live-action roster and looking to beat the competition for the public domain fairy tale to the cinematic jump, Disney has zeroed in on the director it wants to handle its new version of The Little Mermaid: Rob Marshall.
The man who brought Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides to the screen for the studio and is busy finishing up Mary Poppins Returns under the Mouse House's watch has been offered the new job, but according to Deadline, he's taking until after Christmas to decide.
If he does accept, he'll be joining a team that already includes the animated original's Alan Menken on musical duty and (assuming he has time in his schedule), Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda as a producer pitching in with songs. It would represent a reunion for the director and Miranda, since the latter is one of the main cast for Returns.
We'll see whether Marshall is ready to tackle another big Disney musical title so soon after spending time with Mary and co. But he could help the company get out ahead of Universal and Working Title, which are trying to get their own, Chloe Moretz-starring take on its feet.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken board Disney's new Little Mermaid