We couldn’t lie about this even if we tried.
When you wished upon a star (pun intended) for all your favourite Disney animated classics to be remade into live-action feature films, did you know that it could potentially come true? Because the studio is now planning to develop a “Pinocchio”-inspired live-action movie, among others.
Image source: Pinocchio’s official Facebook page
Following the success of Disney’s live-action adaptations of “Maleficent” and “Cinderella“, Deadline broke the news that the studio is set to develop a “Pinocchio” live-action feature film.
Based on Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s novel “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, “Pinocchio” was released in 1940 and it was the 2nd animated feature film produced by Disney, following 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The titular character, who was voiced by 12-year-old child actor Dickie Jones, is a wooden puppet carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a small Italian village.
He is known for his ability to grow his nose when he is under stress, especially while lying. In order to become a real boy, a blue fairy told him that if he must prove himself to be “brave, truthful, and unselfish”. Thus, his journey to becoming a real boy involves a series of encounters with multiple unsavoury characters.
Image source: Pinocchio’s official Facebook page
For the live-action version of the film, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” screenwriter Peter Hedges will write the story loosely based on the animated movie. Hedges is best known for work on “A Map of the World” and “About a Boy”. He previously directed “Pieces of April,” “Dan in Real Life” and “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” from his own scripts.
Director Guillermo del Toro (“Crimson Peak“, “Pacific Rim“) is also developing a stop-motion animated “Pinocchio” project with the Henson Company. He would co-direct the film with “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” animation director Mark Gustafson. Tom Waits, and Donald Sutherland were considered for the role of Pinocchio’s father and Honest John the Fox respectively.
Del Toro has been working on the project since 2008, but the film is struggling to lock down financing to actually get made.
As of now, the studio is working on the live-action adaptations of other iconic animated features.
The list of films is as follows:
- The Jungle Book
- Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass (Sequel)
- Beauty and the Beast
- Dumbo
- Mulan
- Winnie the Pooh
No director and cast members are attached to the film yet, but what do you think? Who do you think should join the film? Feel free to share your dream casting in the comments box below.
(Source: Variety)