Chloe Grace Moretz will star in 'The Little Mermaid'.

Chloe Grace Moretz

Chloe Grace Moretz

Moretz will take on the lead role in the live-action adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic story about a mermaid who wishes to become human after falling in love with a prince she saved from drowning.

Announcing the news on Facebook, Chloe wrote: "Here it is !! I've been waiting months to tell everyone how excited I am to take on this beautiful journey with Working Title, Universal, and a beautiful script by Richard Curtis.. ‪#‎TheLittleMermaid‬ !!!! Here we go!!! (sic)."

'Four Weddings and a Funeral' writer Richard Curtis will pen the script, according to Variety.

Sofia Coppola was previously attached to direct but left the movie after creative differences with the studio.

Chloe is not the only young actress to take on a leading role in a fairytale adaptation, with Emma Watson starring as Belle in the upcoming 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Dan Stevens will co-star as the Beast alongside Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, Sir Ian McKellan as his sidekick, the mantelpiece clock Cogsworth and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.