Hot off the heels of the live-action Bambi announcement, Deadline reports that Pinocchio will be the next live-action Disney film. While there have been no casting announcements, Robert Zemeckis is signed on to direct and co-write the film with Chris Weitz.
This is not Disney’s first attempt at a Pinocchio live-action remake. A couple years ago, it was announced that Paddington 2 director Paul King would helm a Pinocchio remake. King exited the production in January 2019 and nothing has been heard of the film since then.
A draft of the script penned by Chris Weitz and Simon Farnaby currently exists and will be re-written by Weitz and Zemeckis. Chris Weitz previously wrote the script for Disney’s live-action Cinderella remake.
The original 1940 Pinocchio was Walt Disney Animation Studios’ second full-length animated feature after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It follows puppet Pinocchio, who comes to life after his creator, Geppetto, wishes on a star. Pinocchio goes on an adventure with his conscience, Jiminy Cricket, to must prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish so he can become a real boy.
The original Pinocchio cost $2.289 million to produce, twice as much as Snow White, but only recouped $1 million by the end of 1940, surprising Walt Disney Animation Studios. After multiple re-releases, the film has now garnered $85 million in the box office.
We do not yet know when the live-action Pinocchio will be released, but Disney has dates lined up for live-action releases through December 2023, so we can expect to see the film taking one of these slots.
Mars needs Pinocchio
Don’t mess up Jiminy
Like that you have hope! SpectroMagic!!!
I hope Drew Carey gets to reprise his role as Geppetto!
“When I look around this room, I see nothing but potential….”