You wait for years for a new Pinocchio movie and suddenly two come along at once. To be clear, we’re not talking about the version directed by Guillermo del Toro, which will debut on Netflix in December after a limited theatrical run in some territories, but Disney’s Pinocchio, the latest live action adaptation of one of their beloved animated films.
Starring Tom Hanks as the kindly toymaker Geppetto and featuring Ben Ainsley as the voice of the titular puppet, Pinocchio debuts on Disney+ on September 8.
Acclaimed director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future) is calling the shots on this one, directing an incredible cast that includes Cynthia Errivo, Luke Evans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (as Jiminy Cricket!) and Keegan-Michael Key, and bringing his trademark technical nous to the tale.
The director is well-known for special effects-driven productions offering bold technological breakthroughs. His fascination with animation in particular was demonstrated early on in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and later explored through motion capture techniques in films such as The Polar Express.
Zemeckis’ latest production follows the exploits of Pinocchio, the famous marionette carved by Geppetto who is brought to life by the Blue Fairy (Errivo) after the lonely old man wishes he had a real son. But Pinocchio is merely wood, not flesh and blood, and he has many adventures to undertake and lessons to learn on the path to real boyhood.
A classic children’s story, Pinocchio has enthralled and entertained audiences of all ages for generations. We’re looking forward to seeing what this latest iteration brings to the table.
