After Lost In Translation, Sofia Coppola was offered a lot of mainstream projects, but she’s largely stayed in a fairly indie world with the likes of Somewhere and The Bling Ring. However now she’s signed up to direct a live action adaptation of The Little Mermaid for Universal and Working Title, according to Variety.

Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands), taking over from previous writer Kelly Marcel (Fifty Shades of Grey) and Abi Morgan (Shame). Joe Wright was previously attached to helm, but as he’s now preparing to shoot a live-action prequel to Peter Pan, he’s moved on.

The film is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale about a young mermaid who falls in love with a human and makes a dangerous bargain to be allowed live on land. It’s not known how close it’ll stick to the original take, such as the fact that in Andersen’s story, when the mermaid gets legs, every step feels like she’s walking on knives – it certainly didn’t start out as the Disney-fied version.

However this new take will be family-friendly and it’s believed Coppola signed up so she could make something her own children could watch and enjoy. Universal and Working Title are hoping to shoot the film as soon as possible, with an eye on a release date during the spring of 2016.