It looks like Disney’s live-action version ofThe Little Mermaidmay finally be gaining some real traction. The project has been in some form of development for some time now, but it appears the studio is much more serious about actually getting the movie made, as they’ve set their sights on a director. Rob Marshall (Chicago,Into the Woods) is said to be Disney’s top choice for the job and has been offered the movie.
According to a new report, Rob Marshall is currently reviewing the script, which was written by Jane Goldman. That is also a new reveal, as it previously wasn’t known who had worked on the latest draft. Goldman has written quite a few big hits over the years, such asX-Men: First Class, theKingsmanmovies andKick-Ass, just to name a few. As for Marshall, he most recently directedMary Poppins Returnsfor Disney, which the studio has very high hopes for. It’s also worth noting that he worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda on that movie, who is set toproduce and write new musicforThe Little Mermaid, alongside Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast).
Rob Marshall is said to be reading the scripting and taking until after the holidays to make his decision. There’s no word on who Disney might reach out to ifRob Marshallpasses. In the past, he’s done very well for the Mouse House. Though the movie wasn’t a critical darling, Marshall directedPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. He’s also got a solid track record when it comes to musicals, which will be important for something likeThe Little Mermaid.
Universal Pictures is also currently working on their own live-action version ofThe Little Mermaid, which was at one point supposed to star Chloe Moretz in the lead role, before she dropped out. There’s no release date set for that version just yet, so it’s possible that Disney could still beat Universal to the punch, which will be important. Warner Bros. ran into issues with Andy Serkis' live-action version ofThe Jungle Bookafter Disney released their own version last year, which was met with rave reviews and grossed nearly $1 billion. Being first will be key, even for a studio as big as Disney, on something like this.
There’s no word oncasting for The Little Mermaidjust yet, but Lindsay Lohan did express interest inplaying Ariel. Disney’s 1989 animated version ofThe Little Mermaidranks among the classic titles in the studio’s rich history and was a massive financial success at the time, bringing in $211 million at the box office.Deadline’sreport doesn’t make note of when Disney plans to release the movie, but it’s expected that Rob Marshall, should he take the gig, will begin work on it early next year. The studio is currently working on a live-action version ofAladdin, as well as a reimagining ofThe Lion Kingfrom director Jon Favreau.
