‘The Little Mermaid’: Rebecca Thomas Replaces Sofia Coppola As Director
Six months after Sofia Coppola walked away from Universal’s live-action retelling ofThe Little Mermaid, a new director has climbed aboard.Rebecca Thomas(Electrick Children) will be taking over at the helm of the fairy tale, which already hasChloë Grace Moretzset to star. More details on the newLittle Mermaiddirector after the jump.
TheWrapreports Thomas is in early talks to direct the film, which has yet to be officially greenlit.Richard Curtis(Love, Actually) is working on the script. Working Title’sTim BevanandEric Fellnerwill produce, andLiza ChastinandAmelia Grangerwill executive produce.
Coppola departedThe Little Mermaidthis summer after signing on last year. “We didn’t agree creatively about how to do it, so I didn’t want to continue,“she explained earlier this month. “As we were getting closer, it just wasn’t the right fit for what they needed for that project and the way I work.” Casting was one of the points of contention. Coppola wanted Maya Thurman-Hawke for the lead, whereas Universal was pushing for Moretz.
Meanwhile, the trade stresses that Thomas remains attached to direct Paramount’sJohn GreenadaptationLooking for Alaska. She won the job over the summer, beating out (in an odd coincidence) Sofia Coppola’s niece Gia Coppola.Elle Fanningis said to be the top choice for the lead, though no casting has been announced.
Thomas is an up-and-coming filmmaker made her feature directing debut with 2012’sElectrick Children, an indie drama about a girl from a fundamentalist Mormon family who unexpectedly gets pregnant. The film received good reviews on the festival circuit, but mostly flew under the radar in its theatrical release.Little MermaidorLooking for Alaskawill be her second feature, and both should boost her profile considerably.
To get an idea of what Thomas might bring toThe Little Mermaid, check out theElectrick Childrentrailer below:
