The Lost Director: Unveiling the Breaking Point behind the Unmade Live-Action Little Mermaid
Sofia Coppola's unmade live-action Little Mermaid, with a fresh take on the beloved fairytale, faced a major setback due to creative differences Explore the intriguing vision that could have enthralled audiences, beyond a studio executive's controversial desire to target older men
Summary
Sofia Coppola's version of a live-action Little Mermaid movie would have been much darker and closer to Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale.
Coppola had plans to film underwater sequences, much like Avatar. However, she faced disagreement from Universal regarding the necessary budget.
Her vision likely involved delving into the intricacies of Ariel's aspirations and the sacrifices she needed to make, incorporating her distinctive visual aesthetic and profound exploration of characters into the movie.
Sofia Coppola discusses her departure from Universal's abandoned live-action adaptation of the Little Mermaid. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the renowned director revealed that she reached a breaking point when a Universal executive suggested catering the film to older men. Here are Coppola's complete remarks:
Yes,
What Sofia Coppola's Live-Action Little Mermaid Would Have Looked Like
there was a breaking point. In a boardroom, I found myself at a loss for words when a developer asked, "How do we engage the 35-year-old man in the audience?" I was completely out of my comfort zone, feeling both inexperienced and reminiscent of the character in the story who attempted something unfamiliar. This parallel struck me as amusing.
According to Coppola herself, her live-action Little Mermaid was not at all like Disney's version. Instead, it aimed for a closer adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's original dark fairy tale. Coppola even had plans to shoot the film underwater, similar to James Cameron's achievement with Avatar: The Way of Water. However, filming underwater proves to be extremely challenging and expensive. The disagreement between Coppola and Universal over the budget needed for underwater shooting was another factor that led to her departure from the project.
Coppola's films, including Somewhere, Lost in Translation, and Marie Antoinette, showcase her distinct visual and atmospheric style that exudes a dreamy and otherworldly quality. Her ambitious vision for The Little Mermaid would undoubtedly have resulted in breathtaking underwater photography. Furthermore, in line with her reputation for in-depth character exploration, Coppola's adaptation of The Little Mermaid would have likely delved into the intricate complexities of Ariel's yearning for a different world and the sacrifices she endures for love. Although her live-action rendition of The Little Mermaid never materialized, Coppola's career continues to flourish with the release of her latest film, Priscilla.
