Chloe Moretz will be in live action The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is coming back to the big screen.

Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale has been seen many times before, most famously in Disney's 1989 animated feature, and it's about to make a return. Universal and Working Title have a live-action version in the works, and they've tipped star Chloe Moretz to take the lead role.

The film is set to be written by Richard Curtis - who was behind the likes of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually - so its reasonable to expect this adaptation of the story will have some kind of romantic angle. If he can also bring a little of that screwy humour as well that would be great.

There's no further word on this version of the story in terms of setting, period or any other cast. Sofia Coppola was originally set to direct but couldn't agree with the studio on the lead role so she left the project. Without a director it's reasonable to expect this project is going to take a while to come together. That said, Moretz isn't attached to anything else at the moment, having just finished up Brain on Fire with Irish director Gerard Barrett (Glassland, Pilgrim Hill).

Expect more news on The Little Mermaid soon.