Pinocchio (2022 live-action film)

For the stop-motion animated film, see Pinocchio (2022 animated film).

Pinocchio
The silhouette of the titular boy-puppet, heavily resembling the shape of the 1940 Disney version, walks alongside a hill in front of a sunrise. Teaser poster
Directed by	Robert Zemeckis
Produced by	Robert Zemeckis Derek Hogue Andrew Milano Chris Weitz Paul Weitz
Screenplay by	Robert Zemeckis Chris Weitz
Based on	Disney's Pinocchio The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Starring	Tom Hanks Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Joseph Gordon-Levitt Keegan-Michael Key Cynthia Erivo Giuseppe Battiston Luke Evans
Music by	Alan Silvestri
Cinematography	Don Burgess
Edited by	Jesse Goldsmith
Production company	Walt Disney Pictures Depth of Field Studios ImageMovers
Distributed by	Disney+
Release dates	September 8, 2022 (2022-09-08)
Country	United States
Language	English

Pinocchio is an upcoming American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis and Chris Weitz. The film, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, is a live-action adaptation of Walt Disney's 1940 animated film of the same name, which is itself based on the 1883 Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi. The film stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, Giuseppe Battiston and Luke Evans with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Keegan-Michael Key in voice roles.

Pinocchio is scheduled to be released on Disney+ on September 8, 2022.

Premise

In an Italian village, the wooden puppet Pinocchio is brought to life by a blue fairy and seeks to live the life of adventure.

Cast

• Tom Hanks as Geppetto, a kindhearted but lonely Italian woodcarver and toymaker who builds and raises Pinocchio as if he were his real son.
• Cynthia Erivo as The Blue Fairy, who brings Pinocchio to life, and promises to turn him into a real boy if he proves himself brave, truthful, and unselfish.
• Luke Evans as The Coachman, the sly owner and operator of Pleasure Island.
• Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana and her marionette Sabina
• Giuseppe Battiston as Stromboli, a cruel and greedy Italian puppeteer, who intends to force Pinocchio to perform onstage in order to make money.
• Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick, a mischievous boy who Pinocchio befriends on his way to Pleasure Island.
• Sheila Atim as Signora Vitelli, a new character created for the film.

Voices

• Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio, a wooden puppet carved by Geppetto, and brought to life by the Blue Fairy.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, a cheerful, intelligent, and wisecracking cricket, who acts as Pinocchio's "conscience".
• Keegan-Michael Key as "Honest" John Worthington Foulfellow, a deceptive, anthropomorphic red fox who cons Pinocchio. He's always accompanied by his silent cat friend Gideon.
• Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull, a friendly seagull who befriends Jiminy and another new character created for the film.

Geppetto's pets, Figaro the Cat and Cleo the Goldfish, are also set to appear.

Production

Development

130px

Director/co-writer Robert Zemeckis (left) and co-writer/co-producer Chris Weitz.

On April 8, 2015, it was announced that Walt Disney Pictures is developing a live-action adaptation of the 1940 animated film Pinocchio. Peter Hedges was reported to be writing the film's script. On May 22, 2017, it was announced that Chris Weitz will replace Hedges as screenwriter, as well as serve as a producer, while Sam Mendes was in talks to direct the project. On November 13, 2017, Mendes stepped down as the director.

On February 20, 2018, it was announced that Paul King was set to direct the film, while Andrew Milano was announced to be co-producing the film alongside Weitz, and production was expected to begin in late 2018. Though Jack Thorne was announced to be re-writing Weitz's script, Weitz revealed on August 21, 2018, that the script was still being developed, as well as that production was set to take place in England and Italy during 2019. In November 2018, Simon Farnaby was reported to have worked on a new draft for the film. However, on January 13, 2019, it was reported that King left the film due to "family reasons", while Disney was announced to be searching for a new director for the project.

On October 18, 2019, it was reported that Robert Zemeckis was in talks to direct the film, while the film's latest version of the screenplay was reported to have been written by Weitz, King, and Farnaby, with Weitz and Milano still being attached to the project as producers. On January 24, 2020, it was confirmed that Zemeckis will direct the film and write a new script with Weitz. It was also reported that Jack Rapke and Jackie Levine will serve as executive producers.

Casting

94px

94px

94px

94px

Tom Hanks (left), Cynthia Erivo, Giuseppe Battiston and Luke Evans play Geppetto, The Blue Fairy, Stromboli and The Coachman.

107px

107px

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (left), Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco voice Jiminy Cricket, "Honest" John Worthington Foulfellow and Sofia the Seagull.

On November 29, 2018, it was reported that Tom Hanks was in early talks to play Geppetto in the film, but passed on the project after King's departing. In August 2020, Hanks rejoined the project. Hanks reportedly reached out to director Robert Zemeckis for the role after reading the script; the two have previously worked together in the films Forrest Gump (1994), Cast Away (2000), and The Polar Express (2004). In January 2021, Luke Evans joined the cast as the Coachman and Oakes Fegley entered early negotiations to play Lampwick. Lewin Lloyd was eventually cast in the role. In March, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth was cast in the titular role, with Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco also added. Erivo will portray The Blue Fairy, while Gordon-Levitt, Key and Bracco will voice Jiminy Cricket, Honest John and a new character, Sofia the Seagull, respectively.

Filming

Principal photography began on March 17, 2021, in Cardington Film Studios, England, under the working title Mahogany. Filming was completed in April 2021 according to Benjamin Evan Ainswoth. On January 1, 2022, actress Cynthia Erivo shared the first glimpse of her as the Blue Fairy in the upcoming remake.

Visual effects and animation

Moving Picture Company will provide full animation and visual effects.

Music

Alan Silvestri, a recurring collaborator of Zemeckis', will compose the score for the film. Silvestri and Glen Ballard are set to write new songs for the project, which will also include songs from the original film, including "When You Wish Upon a Star", which will be performed by Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy.

Release

On October 29, 2019, it was reported that Disney was considering releasing the film on its streaming service Disney+ due to the box office failure of its 2019 remake of Dumbo, though it was reported that "a theatrical release seems more likely" after the hiring of Robert Zemeckis as director. On December 9, 2020, the film was officially announced to be moving back to Disney+ instead of a theatrical release in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2021, it was revealed that the film will premiere in late 2022. On March 9, 2022, the first look at the upcoming adaptation was released, revealing that the film will be released in September of that year. The first teaser trailer and the official teaser poster for Pinocchio debuted on May 31, 2022, announcing the premiere date of September 8 only on Disney+. The trailer features part of Erivo's rendition of "When You Wish Upon a Star" as well as footage of Hanks as Geppetto.

External links

• Pinocchio at IMDb