by: S. Scott Stanikmas – Senior Staff Writer

Sofia Coppola left Universal’s The Little Mermaid film over creative differences with the studio. She wanted to cast Maya Thurman-Hawke (daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke) as the lead but Universal wanted a bigger name that could be considered a box office draw.

Variety received the scoop that the studio has gotten their first choice to sign on the dotted line and don the fins and flippers as Chloë Grace Moretz will portray the title character in their live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

There isn’t any word yet as to how closely Universal’s story will follow the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale, but we do know that Love, Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis is taking over scripting duties.

The film is still without a director but that’s probably next on the studio’s To-Do list.

While many may remember the beloved 1989 Disney animated version and feel like this may be blasphemy, The Little Mermaid (much like almost every popular classic fairy tale) is in the public domain and fair game for any studio to adapt as they see fit. (as long as they don’t blatantly rip-off another company’s work).

Universal’s The Little Mermaid doesn’t currently have a release date attached to it.