The live-action version of The Little Mermaid has finally gotten their Ariel. Chloë Grace Moretz, known for Kick-Ass and the Carrie remake, is set to star in Universal’s re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a young mermaid who yearns to become human.
Earlier this year, Sofia Coppola left the director’s chair due to “creative differences.” According to Variety, Moretz had long been Universal’s choice for the role — and may have been a reason why Coppola chose to leave. The Bling Ring director reportedly wanted to bring in Maya Thurman Hawke, daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as the lead, but studio execs weren’t too keen on the newcomer. Since The Little Mermaid sadly won’t be done up in Coppola’s usual dreamy, feminine aesthetic, it will be interesting to see who actually ends up taking the film, as a new director has yet to be chosen.