Channing Tatum will play a mermaid in the new 'Splash' remake

Disney will be remaking the 1984 Ron Howard comedy "Splash," with Channing Tatum playing the mermaid character.

The original comedy starred Tom Hanks, who falls in love with Daryl Hannah, who happens to be a mermaid.

In this twist, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Tatum will play a merman while "Workaholics" star Jillian Bell will play the Hanks role.

Howard and producing partner Brian Grazer will produce the film.

A script is currently in the works. No word yet on when filming will start.

The original "Splash" was one of the hit comedies of the mid 1980s and elevated the status of Hanks and Hannah.

The role-reversal idea is the big trend hitting Hollywood at the moment. The recent "Ghostbusters" release had an all-female lead cast and there's also plans of making a female-led "Ocean's Eleven" movie.

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