As Disney continues to adapt many of its classic animated films, Deadline reports that the studio is eyeing Rob Marshall to direct the live-action The Little Mermaid. Marshall has reportedly been offered the director’s chair and will decide after the holidays.
This won’t be the first time Marshall will have worked for Disney if he accepts. He has just come off directing Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt as the famous English nanny. He also directed Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, a film which earned Disney over $1 billion at the box office in 2011, as well as 2014’s Into the Woods.
The Little Mermaid will be produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway’s Hamilton), who also worked with Marshall on Mary Poppins Returns, and Marc Platt. Miranda will also write new songs for the film with Little Mermaid‘s original song writer and composer Alan Menken.
The next Disney animated classics that will receive the live-action treatment are The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, Aladdin, starring Will Smith as Genie and directed by Guy Ritchie, Dumbo from Tim Burton and Mulan from Niki Caro.
Originally published December 6, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
