Oscar winning-director Robert Zemeckis’ visually stunning live-action adaptation of the animated classic, starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto, hits the streamer next month.
Walt Disney Studios has just released the latest trailer, key art, and stills for its upcoming live-action Pinocchio, which hits the streaming September 8, and it promises to be the visual masterpiece one expects from Disney.
Peter Hedges (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) and Chris Weitz wrote the screenplay to this live-action adaptation of the 1940 Disney animated classic, which follows the eponymous puppet who is brought to life and dreams of being a real boy.
Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis (Forest Gump) directs the film, with Andrew Miano, Weitz, Zemeckis and Derek Hogue producing. Academy Award winner Tom Hanks stars as the woodcarver, Geppetto; Benjamin Evan Ainsworth provides the voice of Pinocchio; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt voices Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his "conscience.” The cast also includes Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key as "Honest" John; Academy Award nominee Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull, a new character; and Luke Evans as The Coachman. The film also stars Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana; Jaquita Ta’Le as her marionette Sabina; Giuseppe Battiston as Stromboli; and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick.
Take a look!
Take a look!
The beloved classic comes to life in the all-new live-action #Pinocchio! Watch the new trailer and stream the movie, a #DisneyPlusDay premiere, on September 8 on @DisneyPluspic.twitter.com/vUEeyYSmfG
— DisneyPinocchio (@DisneyPinocchio) August 24, 2022
The classic song from the original film, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” is performed by Erivo; the film also features new original songs composed by Academy Award nominees Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard (The Polar Express).
Don’t confuse Zemeckis’ Pinocchio with Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion adaptation, Pinocchio, coming to Netflix this December. As reported in The Hollywood Reporter back in 2020, Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings stated, “We want to beat Disney in family animation.” It seems that Disney+’s decision to release Zemeckis film prior to its Netflix rival’s film debut might be yet another move in the two streamer’s ongoing chess game. But, come year end, when asked, “did you see Pinocchio?” you’ll having to answer, “Which one?” Not sure who gets the advantage here.
Production VFX supervisor Kevin Baillie, who previously worked with Zemeckis on The Witches and Welcome to Marwen, leads the visual effects production, which are being produced by Framestore and MPC.
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
