Live-Action 'Little Mermaid' Brings in Sofia Coppola, 'Edward Scissorhands' Writer
by Shannon Keirnan
Is "The Little Mermaid" about to take a dark turn?
The live-action film based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen has grabbed Sofia Coppola to direct. With dark classics like "The Virgin Suicides" and "Lost in Translation" under her belt, don't expect a happy Disney ending.
Also on the project is writer Caroline Thompson, who is most known for penning Tim Burton projects "Edward Scissorhands," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and "Corpse Bride."
It's not too surprising, however, when one considers that Hans Christian Andersen's tale doesn't have a happy ending for his little mermaid. Unlike the more child-friendly animated version we're familiar with, his tragic character has her tongue cut out to silence her voice, and when her beloved prince marries another, the option to regain her tail by murdering him. Instead of killing the love that tossed her aside, the little mermaid kills herself by throwing herself into the ocean and becoming foam on the waves.
Will the new version follow this rather horrifying storyline, or will Coppola (who has two young daughters) and Thompson seek to make the story a wee bit more kid-friendly? Time will tell.
Who would you like to see cast as the Little Mermaid and the Prince in the live-action film?