Chloe Moretz in “Little Mermaid”

Chloe Grace Moretz is set to play the title character in Working Title and Universal's “The Little Mermaid” retelling, with Richard Curtis in talks to pen the script.

Not much is known about how this version will compare to previous versions of the Hans Christian Andersen story, which follows a mermaid who wished to become human after falling in love with a man she saved from drowning.

Earlier this year, director Sofia Coppola left the project after creative differences with the studios. Since the project is not yet dated, execs felt it was smarter to take one more pass at the script with a top-level writer in order to attract the type of talent they want for the project.

Moretz had been the frontrunner for the role even while Coppola was still attached; some insiders point to Coppola's unwillingness to go with a star like Moretz as her impetus for parting ways with the project.

Moretz is currently filming “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” for Universal after having just finished “Brain on Fire”. She can be seen next in Sony's “The Fifth Wave” and also has “November Criminals” set to bow next year.