Sofia Coppola exits Director’s Chair of Universal Pictures’ The Little Mermaid

Whilst she last directed The Bling Ring and is currently working on A Very Murray Christmas, it has been revealed that Sofia Coppola has left the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

Deadline report that the Marie Antoinette and Lost in Translation filmmaker has pulled out due to creative differences written by Edward Scissorhands screenwriter Caroline Thompson, and is said to be based around the darker Hans Christian Andersen fairytale rather than Disney's version.

The Universal Pictures project follows a mermaid who wishes to become human after falling in love with a man she saved from drowning and currently Universal are looking for a perfect Ariel, and it has been suggested that the choice of actress may have been the issue that caused the partnership split.

The studio and Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner who serve as Producers are still moving forward with the film, although there is no word on who will step into the Director’s Chair.