Sony Picks Up Dark Retelling of 'Little Mermaid'

"Country Strong" filmmaker Shana Feste is tapped to write and direct the project, based on Carolyn Turgeon's "Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale."

12:49 PM PDT 5/23/2011 by Borys Kit

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Hans Christian Andersens’ The Little Mermaid is the latest fairy tale to follow into the studios thirst for reimaginings.

Sony has picked up Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale, a book by Carolyn Turgeon, for Country Strong filmmaker Shana Feste to write and direct. Tobey Maguire and Jenno Topping, who worked with Feste on Country Strong,
are producing.

The story gets its point of view shifted and the tone is definitely not Disney. It centers on a princess who, in order to save her ravaged kingdom, sets out on a dangerous journey to marry the prince of her rival kingdom, not knowing that a beautiful mermaid has fallen for the same man and has sacrificed everything to be with him.

Maguire is producing via his Material Pictures and the company’s Nick Reimond will oversee. Andrea Gianetti oversees for the studio.

Feste, repped by CAA, Madhouse Entertainment, and attorney Sean Marks, also wrote and directed The Greatest, the drama which starred Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon and Carey Mulligan.

Turgeon is repped by ICM.