For the past four years,Robert Downey Jr.has been trying to get a new live-action version ofPinocchiooff the ground, with the actor set to star as Geppetto and produce through his Team Downey company. Today, the project is moving forward once again, withThe Tracking Boardreporting thatRon Howardis now attached to direct. The filmamker replacesPaul Thomas Anderson, who stepped away fromPinocchioback in November.
We first reported on this project back in January 2012, whenRobert Downey Jr.signed on to portray Geppetto and produce.HannibalcreatorBryan Fullerhad originally been tasked with writing the script, with Michael Mitnick (The Giver),Jane Goldman(Kingsman: The Secret Service) andPaul Thomas Andersonalso working on drafts of the script. The site reports thatRon Howardis expected to have a say in who the next writer will be.
The project is expected to be a family-oriented movie, centering on Geppetto who goes on a journey to findPinocchioafter he goes missing.Tim Burtonwas originally attached to direct, withBen Stillercoming aboard todirectin 2013. WithRon Howardnow on board to direct, the project is expected to move forward quickly, although it isn’t known when production may start. Warner Bros. hasn’t issued arelease datequite yet.
Ron Howardis producing with his Imagine Entertainment partnerBrian Grazer, joining Dan Jinks of The Dan Jinks Company and Team Downey’sRobert Downey Jr.andSusan Downey. There have been several live-action adaptations of Carlo Carlei’s original story, most recently,Roberto Benigni’s Pinocchio, which hit theaters in 2002. This project finding its footing now is quite timely, since Disney has found plenty of success with theirlive-actionblockbusters likeMaleficent,Cinderellaand the upcomingAlice Through the Looking Glass.
Ron Howardmost recently directedIn the Heart of the Sea, and his next movie,Inferno, hits theaters on October 14. The director also hinted last year that a sequel to his beloved 1980s classicWillowmay happen some day, but nothing is in the works quite yet. Are you looking forward to aRon Howard-directed version ofPinocchio?
