Director Robert Zemeckis, known for classics like the Back to the Future films, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and most recently, Welcome to Marwen, has finally signed a long talked-about deal with Disney to direct the live-action Pinocchio. Zemeckis will also co-write the script for the film alongside Chris Weitz, who previously wrote a script with Simon Farnaby, who is no longer attached to the project, and neither is that script.
The story will follow the original animated Disney film, telling the classic tale of Geppetto, a woodworker who creates a marionette puppet boy named Pinocchio, wishing he had a son of his own. Pinocchio magically comes to life, and with the help of his conscience, in the form of Jiminy Cricket, he goes on a quest to become a real boy, facing obstacles along the way.
No cast has been hired on yet, but the film is loosely set to begin filming late this year. I’m a fan of Zemeckis, and I am interested to see what he makes from the classic story.