(English) Channing Tatum ‘to play mermaid’ in Splash remake

Magic Mike star Channing Tatum is to play the mermaid in a remake of 1984’s film Splash, taking the role played by Darryl Hannah, according to reports.

The original film saw Tom Hanks play a man saved from drowning as a boy by a mermaid, whom he meets 20 years later.

Tatum – who will presumably be a merman – is set to co-star with Jillian Bell, according to  Hollywood Reporter.

They starred in 2014’s  undercover cop comedy film 22 Jump Stret,  which topped the box office on its release.

The original film’s director Ron Howard is set to produce the film, along with Tatum.

The film, a rom-com about whether the man will choose to remain on land or join the mermaid in the sea, was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay.