'Little Mermaid' gets 'Country Strong' director

Country Strong director Shana Feste has reportedly been tapped by Sony Pictures to both write and direct an adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

According to Variety, the studio recently acquired the rights to Carolyn Turgeon's dark re-imagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen novel, called Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale.

Released earlier this year, the book follows a young princess who must marry the prince of another kingdom to save her own from destruction, but must contend with the rival affections of a mermaid who has also fallen in love with the prince.

As well as last year's musical film Country Strong starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Feste also directed 2009 drama The Greatest starring Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon.

Hanna director Joe Wright is believed to also be working on a film adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

No further details about the Sony Pictures adaptation have been released, although Country Strong producers Material Pictures and Jenno Topping are said to be on board with the project.