Channing Tatum is to star in a remake of 1980s mermaid film Splash, according to reports.

The Hollywood Reporter said Tatum, 36, will star as the mermaid character played by Daryl Hannah in the 1984 original.

Ron Howard will reportedly be a producer on the remake of the romantic fantasy, alongside Magic Mike star Tatum.

Jillian Bell is reported to have signed on as the character originally played by Tom Hanks.

Bell, 32, is known for her TV work on American sitcom Workaholics and has starred in films such as Goosebumps and The Night Before.

The original Splash told the story of a young boy, Allen, who falls in love with a real-life mermaid during a family boat trip. Years later the pair are reunited briefly and she then heads to New York to seek him out.

Tatum and Bell previously starred together in 22 Jump Street.