It had been announced that Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation) was on sailing to direct Universal and Working Title’s adaptation of the fairy tale The Little Mermaid (not the Disney one), but now Deadline are reporting that the relationship has sunk.
According to the website, Coppola has left the project due to “creative differences”. There’s no word on who might replace her, but Joe Wright (Pan) was eyed to direct at one point.
The script for The Little Mermaid is currently being re-written by Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands), which was previously drafted by Kelly Marcel (Fifty Shades of Grey). Abi Morgan (Brick Lane) had also done a pass on the script. The story, written by Hans Christian Anderson, follows a mermaid who gives up her life in the sea for a human prince on land and has been adapted several times over, the most famous of which being the 1989 Disney animated classic.
Coppola recently wrapped on the Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas, which is an homage to classic variety shows and will include George Clooney, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Miley Cyrus, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, Rick Ross, Julian Casablancas, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Schaffer, Jenny Lewis, Lilly Burns and Buster Pointdexter.
Originally published June 2, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
