Sofia Coppola exits "The Little Mermaid" live-action movie

PanARMENIAN.Net - Sofia Coppola will no longer direct Universal and Working Title's upcoming live-action movie "The Little Mermaid". As AceShowbiz reports citing Deadline, Sofia cited the all-encompassing "creative differences" as the reason of her exit.

Universal along with Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are still planning to move forward with the project based on a script rewritten by Caroline Thompson from the adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale. Previously, "Fifty Shades of Grey" scribe Kelly Marcel and "Shame" scribe Abi Morgan wrote the drafts.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that "casting was underway for the film, with Coppola meeting with Bevan and Fellner recently in London."

Sofia, who directed "Lost in Translation", "Marie Antoinette", "Somewhere" and "The Bling Ring", most recently directed and wrote upcoming Netflix's special "A Very Murray Christmas" along with Bill Murray and Mitch Glazer. The cast includes George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock and more.