Sofia Coppola is set to direct a new adaptation of The Little Mermaid, with Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) as screenwriter. It sounds like this adaptation is going to be closer to the original Hans Christian Andersen version than the Disney version. Here's an excerpt from its synopsis:
The Little Mermaid, longing for the prince and an eternal soul, eventually visits the Sea Witch, who sells her a potion that gives her legs, in exchange for her tongue (as the Little Mermaid has the most intoxicating voice in the world). Drinking the potion will make her feel as if a sword is being passed through her, yet when she recovers she will have two beautiful legs, and will be able to dance like no human has ever danced before. However, it will constantly feel like she is walking on sharp swords, and her feet will bleed most terribly. In addition, she will only get a soul if the prince loves her and marries her, for then a part of his soul will flow into her. Otherwise, at dawn on the first day after he marries another woman, the Little Mermaid will die brokenhearted and disintegrate into sea foam.
From The Independent:
This marks a notable departure from the more adult themes of (Coppola's) previous work... but if she sticks to the plot of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale it will be more adult than ever.
This is still in pre-production, so there's no release date to look forward to yet, but rumors are that Emma Watson is in talks to star as Ariel. Emma and Sofia previously worked together in The Bling Ring, and make a great team. Let's be honest, I'll see anything Emma Watson is in, so let bleakness and exquisite pain commence!
Image is the Edmund Dulac illustration of Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" from the New York Public Library's Digital Collections.
I am very intrigued by this. Especially if they stick to the original (which is heartbreaking, but teaches a much better lesson than the disney version). But I'd for sure be 100% in if Emma's in it.
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious too. From what I know of the original story, I don't know how they're going to pull it off without making it extremely depressing. But, I agree, if Emma is in it i'll see if regardless.
Delete