Fans outraged by blonde Little Mermaid

The new little mermaid played by Chloe Grace Moretz will be blonde, and fans are not happy. Photo / Getty

All you know and love about The Little Mermaid is being binned in a new live-action remake of the beloved children's tale.

Disney's 1989 portrayal of Ariel with lush bright red locks is a far cry from the character to be played by Chloe Grace Moretz.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight the actress delivered the news she won't be dyeing her blonde hair, and broke many hearts in the process.

Fans tweeted their horror at the thought of her character without the distinctive feature.

Wtf why is Chloë Grace Moretz going to be a blonde Ariel in the live action Little Mermaid .... 😒😒☹

— caroline🦋 (@scarolineadam) December 9, 2015

Unbelievable. In the Live version of the Little Mermaid, Ariel will be blonde. She's been the hero of redheads since the dawn of time WHY

— Maeve Doherty (@maeverly26) December 9, 2015

I feel personally victimized that the live action remake of the little mermaid is going to feature a BLONDE Ariel?!

— l a u r e n 🌱 (@mrslagoodwin) December 8, 2015

I will not be watching the new little mermaid movie...Ariel is a redhead not a blonde 😠🙅

— ✨Stephanie Marie✨ (@steph_bayless) December 7, 2015

The adaptation is based on Hans Christian Anderson's 1837 fairy tale, rather than Disney's take.

Illustrations in the original book show the mermaid with a golden mane.

"I'll actually have blonde hair," Moretz revealed.

Screenwriter Richard Curtis, who also penned Love Actually and Notting Hill, is still working on the script.

The Universal production was originally to be directed by Sofia Coppola but she stepped away from the project because of creative differences.

A director has not yet been appointed to the project, but Moretz said it will be a fresh take on the theme.

"[It's] a modern, revisionist tale, progressive for young women in this day and age."

- nzherald.co.nz