Splash remake: Channing Tatum and Jillian Bell secure the two lead roles in the forthcoming movie.
The Splash remake will see the roles reversed with Tatum playing the merman.
The Splash remake, which is firmly in the works over at Universal, has found its two leads in Channing Tatum and Jillian Bell, so says The Hollywood Reporter. The two actors will play the roles made famous by Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah in the original movie, which was directed by Ron Howard and released back in 1984.
Marja-Lewis Ryan is writing the script for the Splash remake, while Ron Howard comes on as producer along with Brian Grazer of their production banner Imagine Entertainment.
The original movie revolved around a young boy who is saved from drowning by a beautiful mermaid, and then falls in love with her 20 years later when she returns to seek him out. Before he can choose between life on dry land or a deep sea paradise with his dream woman, the lovers are rudely interrupted by the intervention of a scheming scientist.
The big twist with the new movie is that the roles have been reversed, and Channing Tatum will be playing a merman and Bell the girl that he saves from the ocean.
Tatum is currently filming the sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and will, at some point, lead out the Gambit movie over at Fox. Bell will next be seen in Office Christmas Party, which will hit nearer the festive season.
The two have worked together before, of course. Both appeared in 22 Jump Street, another sequel for which has also been given the green light. James Bobin will direct the film, which will be a cross with the Men In Black series.
More on the Splash remake as we get it.
