Universal has cast Chloe Moretz to star in their upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

The 18-year-old actress has officially signed on to star in the live-action adaptation, which will be based on the original tale (not Disney’s Ariel version), but the report does not mention the original character’s name. Moretz is best known for her roles in Kickass, Hugo, and more recently If I Stay, but she’s currently filming with comedic writer/actor Seth Rogen in his Neighbors’ sequel titled Sorority Rising.

The Hollywood Reporter also notes that writer Richard Curtis, who wrote Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually, is in negotiations to pen the film’s script. So far it’s unknown how much the live-action adaptation will deviate from Disney’s 1989 classic since it will focus on the original tale, but we imagine it will be in a similar vein as other recent live-action adaptations.

This film has had some trouble getting into production, as many people were originally very excited to find out that Sofia Coppola was helming the project. However, she would later exit due to creative differences, which has left the film without a director for now.

It seems the studio is moving forward without a director, as signing Chloe Moretz up to star in the film will most likely bring some directors to the table as she’s a talented actress.

Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote the original The Little Mermaid, which is about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul. The fairy tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted into musicals and the more popular animated Disney film, which featured Ariel as the central character.

With the success of other recent live-action fairy tale adaptations, hopefully this project will end up getting off the ground and be another classic animated film to get a proper live-action treatment.

There’s currently no release date for Universal’s The Little Mermaid, but with Moretz signing on we imagine a director and writer will be announced in the coming weeks. Let us know what you think of Moretz playing the incredibly popular mermaid.