Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis is currently in talks to direct Disney’s live-action remake of the 1940 animated classic, Pinocchio.
Variety reports that while a deal has not been closed yet, Robert Zemeckis is in early talks with Disney to make Pinocchio his next film to direct following his upcoming adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1983 fantasy novel The Witches for Warner Bros. Pictures, which stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock. Robert Zemeckis has reportedly been looking at Pinocchio as his next project since the summer.
Paddington director Paul King and producer David Heyman were previously attached to Disney’s live-action Pinocchio but are both no longer involved, with Paul King leaving the project earlier this year due to unknown reasons. Producers Andrew Miano and Chris Weitz are currently attached to the project.
Robert Zemeckis is said to be looking for the actor who will play Mister Geppetto, the woodworker whom created the titular Pinocchio and wished for him to become a real boy. Tom Hanks, whom previously worked with Robert Zemeckis on Forrest Gump (for which he won his second Academy Award) and Cast Away reportedly circled the role, but ultimately passed.
Robert Zemeckis’ iconic filmography includes the likes of Romancing the Stone, the Back to the Future trilogy, Forrest Gump, Contact and Cast Away. In recent years, he’s directed Flight, The Walk, Allied and Welcome to Marwen.
Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films previously had Robert Zemeckis on their shortlist to direct their long-gestating The Flash starring Ezra Miller, with even DC Comics’ Geoff Johns proclaiming that Robert Zemeckis is his favorite filmmaker of all-time. Currently, Andy Muschietti is attached to direct that project.
What do you make of this news? Do you think Robert Zemeckis would make a great fit to direct Pinocchio for Disney? If so, who would you like to see him cast as his Mister Geppetto? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming film projects as well as Disney’s live-action Pinocchio and their upcoming slate of live-action remakes of their classic animated films.
Source: Variety
