Sofia Coppola Departs Universal's Live Action THE LITTLE MERMAID

Sofia Coppola will no longer be bringing THE LITTLE MERMAID to life on the big screen.

According to Deadline, Coppola has officially walked away from Universal and Working Title's planned live action take on the story, citing creative differences.

Casting the lead role of Ariel reportedly caused the split. Studio execs still have confidence in the project, however, and are now at work on lining up a new director. The most recent draft of the script was penned by Caroline Thompson, with FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Kelly Marcel penning past versions.

Coppola's most recent project is Netflix's A Very Murray Christmas, an homage to the classic variety show featuring Bill Murray playing himself, as he worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a terrible snow storm in New York City. Coppola wrote and directed the special, which is expected to debut later this year.

Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at the Carlyle hotel to help him; dancing and singing in holiday spirit.

The star-studded cast also includes George Clooney, Paul Shaffer, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Dimitri Dimitrov, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, David Johansen, Maya Rudolph, Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, Phoenix, Frederic Moulin, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus, and more.

A Very Murray Christmas is executive produced by Coppola, Glazer, Roman Coppola and Tony Hernandez.

Coppola's Lost in Translation won the 2003 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. She has also directed The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, Somewhere, and The Bling Ring.

Pictured: Eugene Pack, Sofia Coppola; PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Werner

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