Chloe Moretz to topline Universal's “The Little Mermaid”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chloe Moretz is taking the role of "The Little Mermaid" in Working Title and Universal's retelling of the classic tale. The 18-year-old actress has been a frontrunner for a while but she only nails the job after director Sofia Coppola steps down, AceShowbiz reveals.

Coppola left the project earlier this year due to creative differences with the studio. Variety reported that the director did not want "to go with a star like Moretz as her impetus for parting ways with the project." Her exit prompted the studio to pursue Moretz once more but they did not want to make it official until a writer was attached to pen the script.

Richard Curtis whose credit includes "Love Actually" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral" is in talks to write the script. The studio wanted a "top-level writer in order to attract the type of talent they want for the project." A new director is yet found.

The Hans Christian Andersen version follows a mermaid who wished to become human after falling in love with a man she saved from drowning. It is yet clear how the live-action movie will retell the story. No release date is announced.