Screenwriter and director Sofia Coppola is close to taking the director’s chair for a live-action version of The Little Mermaid, a fairy tale classic by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” illustrated by Edmund Dulac
Deadline.com reported last Tuesday that the award-winning director is currently in talks with Universal Studios and the production company, Working Title, to helm the animated Disney picture. The script for the film shall be written by Caroline Thompson, notorious for her collaboration with Tim Burton in Edward Scissor Hands, Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Screenwriters Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr. Banks) and Abi Morgan (Shame) have worked on drafts for the scripts. Joe Wright, director of Atonement, was also pointed out as a potential director for the film.
Coppola’s past work focuses around more adult-oriented themes, as we’ve seen in her recent films The Bling Ring and Somewhere. The production of The Little Mermaid would make a significant turning point for her.
Director Sofia Coppola
The Studio’s intention is to work quickly, suggesting that Coppola is likely to seal the job.
Coppola is also known for her production of The Virgin Suicides, and her most memorable picture, Lost in Translation, winner of 3 Golden Globes, and an Oscar for best original screenplay.
—Luis Cuevas
