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Yes please: Tom Hanks in talks to play Geppetto in Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ remake

MA

by Mary Ali

MA

by Mary Ali

Disney has been releasing a string of live-action remakes of its animated classics, including Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King.

Now, rumours are circulating about the possibility of Tom Hanks starring as Geppetto in the remake of the 1940’s classic, Pinocchio. 

Pinocchio

Tom Hanks is apparently set to star as Geppetto in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1940’s animated classic, Pinocchio.

Disney’s Pinocchio was based on the 1883 Italian children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio which tells of a lonely, elderly man named Geppetto (who Hanks is rumoured to play) that carves out a wooden boy for company. Taking pity on the old man, a blue fairy brings the puppet to life and promises that if he is “brave, truthful, and unselfish” he will become a real boy. Of course, it wouldn’t be a classic Disney film without some childish trials and tribulations, including a growing nose with every lie told.

The proposed director, Robert Zemeckis, has worked alongside Hanks before on Oscar-winning films like Forrest Gump, Castaway, and The Polar Express. It seems that the pair have a knack for creating highly-acclaimed box office hits, and perhaps Pinocchio will be no different.

Truth be told, the Disney live-action remakes have been quite hit and miss. Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent (a remake of Sleeping Beauty) was incredibly well-received, but The Lion King was labelled as “unnecessary.” Of course, these COVID-times make everything uncertain, so the latest remake, Mulan, will be skipping its theatrical release entirely, instead becoming available for streaming on Disney+ this September.

This makes Pinocchio quite a gamble and Disney may have already paused production whilst it sorts out the COVID mess. It will be interesting to see how Disney keeps up its film releases amidst the pandemic.

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