Handsome Channing Tatum is to play a merman in a remake of 1984’s film Splash, taking the character played by Darryl Hannah.

In the original film, Tom Hanks played the role of a man saved from sinking as a boy by a mermaid, whom he met 20 years later.

Tatum will most probably be a merman – is set to work as a co-star with Jillian Bell,

The film, a rom-com about whether the man will wish to stay on land or join the mermaids in the sea, it was chosen for an Oscar for best original screenplay.

This version will be written by Maris Lewis-Ryan. Tatum just starred in Hail Caesar with George Clooney and Josh Brolin, while Bell is to come out in Office Christmas Party later this year.