Tom Hanks is in early negotiations to play Geppetto in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Pinocchio. With a string of successful adaptations as of late, the Mouse House is looking to once again cash in on one of their classic animated tales.
Initially arriving in theatres in 1940, Pinocchio was the second animated feature film that Disney released, coming three years after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The musical tells the story of lonely woodcarver Geppetto, who creates a boy out of wood. One night after being magically brought to life by a fairy, Pinocchio undertakes a challenging journey to become a real boy. The film is one of the most beloved Disney properties, and there has been a wide variety of versions over the years – most recently a live-action Italian language adaptation. There’s also a stop-motion adaptation on its way from Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Torro. This being the case, it might not seem like the most convenient time for Disney to move forward with Pinocchio, but the adaptation has been in the works for years and gone through numerous prospective directors in the process.
With Robert Zemeckis on board to direct this latest Disney iteration of Pinocchio, there now seems to be some solid momentum behind the production. And although the film still doesn’t have a confirmed cast, Zemeckis appears to be close to landing Tom Hanks for the role of Geppetto. According to Deadline, Hanks is in early negotiations to play the character. Hanks expressed a desire to commit to the role after reading the script that Zemeckis co-wrote. Disney had reportedly approached Hanks for the role back when director Paul King was attached to the film, but now that Zemeckis has taken over, there seems to be greater interest from Hanks.
Should Hanks officially decide to join the cast of Pinocchio, it will mark the fourth time that Zemeckis and the Forrest Gump star have worked together. The pair won Oscars for their efforts on that film, which captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide. Pinocchio seems like it could be the perfect vehicle for the two long-time friends, as both men are adept at creating the sort of cinema that connects with people of all ages. The film’s story and characters are also well suited for a live-action adaptation, and given Disney’s previous successes with adapting their most popular animated films; there’s every reason to believe that a Pinocchio adaptation – particularly one starring Hanks and directed by Zemeckis, could be massive.
Of course, not every Disney live-action adaptation has taken the box office and audiences by storm. Tim Burton’s 2019 interpretation of Dumbo, for example, wasn’t quite the success story that Disney and fans hoped it would be. Still, Pinocchio is arguably an even more iconic tale, given its numerous versions over the years. It’s also just the sort of magical fantasy that can be elevated to new heights. With some of the best creative talents that Hollywood has to offer onboard, Pinocchio’s future is looking quite promising.
Source: Deadline