Channing Tatum to play merman in 'Splash' remake

Los Angeles: Actor Channing Tatum has signed up for the lead role in Disney's "Splash" remake. He will be playing a mermaid. But not really -- only the male version of mermaid.

Tatum will join his "22 Jump Street" co-star Jillian Bell for the remake of the 1984 film, which originally featured Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, reports eonline.com.

The original film followed the story of a young man (Allen) who reunites with a mermaid (Madison) who saved him from drowning as a boy. He ends up falling in love with her, not knowing who or what she is. 

However, in the remake, Tatum will play merman -- a male version of the mermaid, and Bell will play a female version of Allen.

The film is in the early stages of development. 

Marja-Lewis Ryan is writing the script, while Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, who directed and produced the original film, will produce it along with Tatum, Reid Carolin and Peter Kieran.