With 'Frozen' still tearing up the box office months after release, the demand for fantastical stories revolving around princesses are at an all-time high ... and Disney isn't the only one looking for a slice of the action. Sofia Coppola of 'Lost in Translation' and 'The Bling Ring' fame is looking to bring Hans Christian Anderson's 'The Little Mermaid' to the big screen for Universal, which is as interesting a combination of talent and subject matter that we've ever seen.

Although famously adapted by Disney into a celebrated animated musical in 1989, the original story of the mermaid who falls in love with a human and makes a tragic bargain to walk amongst humans is a very different, much darker beast. Deadline doesn't have too many details about the project, but it does suggest the possibility of Coppola making a family-friendly movie.

It's interesting news nonetheless. Coppola has made a career out of exploring flawed and fascinating female protagonists, so it'll be just as interesting to watch her bring her particular skill set to the blockbuster realm. If we're lucky, this won't be a paycheck gig, but rather another noteworthy entry in an eclectic filmmaker's increasingly diverse filmography. At the moment, the script is being written by 'Edward Scissorhands' scribe Caroline Thompson, but we wouldn't be surprised if Coppola's auteurist tendencies kick in and she takes a swing at the script, as well.

There is no release date set for the project yet, but Universal reportedly wants to get 'The Little Mermaid' up and swimming as soon as possible.

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