Sarah Rothschild, the writer of the Netflix movie The Sleepover, has signed on to pen the latest draft of the remake of Splash for Disney Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Free Association, Deadline is reporting. The scribe was brought on to write the script for Disney+’s contemporary version of the hit fantasy romantic comedy after Marja-Lewis Ryan (The L Word: Generation Q) pen an earlier draft of the screenplay.
The original Splash was a huge hit for Disney when it was released in 1984; it grossed nearly $70 million at the domestic box office (approximately $205 million, adjusted for inflation) during its theatrical run, against a budget of $11 million.
The film’s box office success led it become the first major hit for its director, Ron Howard and producer, Brian Grazer, which led to the creation of their production company, Imagine Entertainment, in November 1985. The movie was also the first adult-demo feature to be released under Disney’s Touchstone Pictures label (which later ceased production in 2017).
The original Splash was written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, and Bruce Jay Friedman, based on a story by Friedman and Grazer. The comedy was later nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The original Splash starred Tom Hanks and Darryl Hanna as a man and a mermaid who fall in love after being reunited years after she saved his life as a boy. The film also stars John Candy and Eugene Levy.
It was first revealed in 2016 that Channing Tatum and his 22 Jump Street co-star, Jillian Bell were cast in Hanks and Hanna’s lead roles in the upcoming Splash reimagining. Tatum was also set to produce the movie at the time. While Bell is still attached to the upcoming remake, it’s currently unknown if Tatum is still involved with the project in any capacity.
Rothschild, an award-winning screenwriter, recently adapted The Love Hypothesis for MRC and Elizabeth Cantillon. She also wrote 24/7, which serves as a a modern day take on Working Girl. The film, which was sold to Universal, will be produced by Eva Longoria’s UnbeliEVAble and Paul Feig. Longoria and Kerry Washington are attached to star in the movie.
Rothschild’s original feature, The Sleepover, was released by Netflix in August 2020, and starred Ken Marino, Malin Ackerman and Joe Manganiello. The action comedy was directed by Trish Sie (Pitch Perfect 3, Step Up: All In).
Rothschild is also involved in television, as her pilot, Before I Forget, will also be produced by UnbeliEVAble, and Longoria set to star. Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man films, 500 Days of Summer) is attached to direct the pilot.