Chloe Grace Moretz

Chloe Grace Moretz will star in a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Veteran Richard Curtis (Love, Actually) is in talks to write a new version of the screenplay, according to Variety.

At this point, it's not known what Curtis might have in mind to freshen up the story, which followed a mermaid who develops a desire to live on land after she saves a handsome prince from drowning. First published in the 1837, the story has been frequently adapted in the past 100 years or so in a variety of media, from an opera to a symphonic poem to various television shows and films, most notably in Disney's 1989 loosely adapted animated classic, which proved immensely popular.

 

The current version has been in development since 2010 by British company Working Title. At that time, Joe Wright (Atonement, Pan) was attached to develop a script written by Abi Morgan (Suffragette), which drew inspiration from a stage production that featured puppets. That didn't go anywhere, so in June 2013 writer Kelly Marcel (Fifty Shades of Grey) came on board to rewrite the script, with Wright still attached to direct.

By March 2014, Wright had departed and Sofia Coppola (The Bling Ring) was attached to the project as director, with Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) busy rewriting the screenplay. But in June of this year, Coppola dropped out, citing "creative differences." By this point, distributor Universal Pictures was also involved with the project, and Thompson was reportedly rewriting the script again.

Now Variety states: 'Moretz had been the front-runner for the role even while Coppola was still attached; 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 for a final draft." That timing appears to agree with what Moretz shared on social media:

 

Next up, we imagine the producers will want to make sure the script is just right before going out to directors, but the project may finally be able to move forward next year.