Universal’s live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID lost Sofia Coppola as a director, but now they have someone to play their title character: former Hit-Girl and HUGO star Chloe Grace Moretz.
Moretz has apparently been the top choice for the role since Coppola was still onboard as director. Curiously enough, some folks are apparently saying that the studio’s fixation on Moretz (who starred in KICK-ASS 2 and NEIGHBORS 2 for the studio) for the role is what drove Coppola away. According to The Wrap, her first choice was newcomer Maya Thurman-Hawke, but the studio wanted to build their tentpole around someone they knew would put asses in seats (which, if you look at Coppola's filmography, has been a problem for her in the past).
I don’t know anything about the offspring of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke (other than that she’s got good genes), it’s hard to imagine someone better suited for the role than Moretz (even if she’s not, you know, a redhead). She’s already played a similarly pent-up, closed-off teen character in CARRIE, and she has more of a cross-generational appeal than many actresses in her age range. I don’t think she’ll have to sing (this is a Uni show, not Disney, so the songs are out), but she does have the innocent looks and talent for a believable, real-life LITTLE MERMAID. Hope she can swim!
Another cool thing about this production; they’re trying to get LOVE ACTUALLY director (and BLACKADDER co-creator) Richard Curtis to write the script. Perhaps they could persuade him to direct, if they don’t have someone else in mind?
It’s a shame that Coppola has so much trouble dealing with the studios, because an auteur-driven take on this story (which could be a child-themed variation on her own castle-trapped MARIE ANTOINETTE) could be tragic and fascinating. But whomever they get has a solid Ariel in place, which was arguably half the battle.
Who isn’t down for Moretz as THE LITTLE MERMAID?
