Over the past few years, Disney has remade a large number of its iconic animated films. Disney will continue producing these remakes despite all the criticism they receive since they continue to be very profitable. Pinocchio, the 1940 animated classic that tells the tale of a wooden puppet that grows up to be a real boy, is the most recent animated classic that Disney is redoing. Despite the fact that this story has been adapted for the movie numerous times, including twice with Italian comic Roberto Benigni, Disney’s adaptation was created by renowned director Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay he co-wrote with Chris Weitz, the writer of About A Boy.
If any of this piques your interest, here is a thorough, simple-to-read guide that will address all of your concerns regarding the new Pinocchio, including when it will be released, who will be in the cast, and how it will differ from another upcoming Pinocchio film from Guillermo del Toro and Netflix.
Watch the Pinocchio Trailer
On May 31, 2022, Disney published the first Pinocchio trailer. Although the 102-second teaser doesn’t reveal much of the titular character, it does showcase other characters (both real people and CGI), and it even includes a little clip of the new version of the iconic song “When You Wish Upon a Star” that will be featured in the movie.
When and Where Will Pinocchio Be Released?
Beginning on September 8, 2022, Disney+ will be the only place to see the new Pinocchio. This day is significant since it will precede the company’s biennial fan expo D23 and mark the second annual Disney+ Day celebration. Remember that Mulan and Lady and the Tramp also had to postpone their theatrical premieres, though Mulan’s was due to COVID. Pinocchio is not the first live-action Disney adaptation to not be released in theatres.
Who’s in the Cast of Pinocchio?
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, Luke Evans, Kyanne Lamaya, Giuseppe Battison, Lewin Lloyd, Sheila Atim, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, and Lorraine Bracco are just a few of the actors who will appear in this new Pinocchio movie, either in person or as the voice of a computer-generated character.
Who’s Playing Who in Pinocchio?
The majority of the characters in this new Pinocchio were in the original Pinocchio, but in case you missed it or simply forgot, here are quick explanations of every character in Disney’s Pinocchio remake.
Pinocchio, a wooden puppet that comes to life and longs to be a real boy, is voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
Geppetto, the lone woodcarver who produces Pinocchio and raises him as a son, is portrayed by Tom Hanks. When Paddington filmmaker Paul King was originally committed to the movie in 2018, Hanks initially joined it. King later withdrew, and Hanks then left. But Hanks returned following Zemeckis’ appointment as the new director, most likely because the two of them already have a terrific working rapport. After Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and The Polar Express, this movie is Zemeckis and Hanks’ fourth collaboration.
The Blue Fairy, played by Cynthia Erivo, is a supernatural creature that transforms Pinocchio into a living puppet and desires to change him into a real boy if he is sincere enough.
To convert young lads into donkeys and sell them on the underground market, The Coachman, played by Luke Evans, invites them into his cursed Pleasure Island. Evans plays a villain for the second time in a live-action Disney movie after playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.
Signor Stromboli, a cunning puppeteer who kidnaps Pinocchio and makes him perform on stage while raking in the cash, is portrayed by Giuseppe Battiston.
Lampwick, Pinocchio’s wicked human companion, is portrayed by Lewin Lloyd.
Jiminy Cricket, an anthropomorphic cricket with high morals and intellect who plays the role of Pinocchio’s “conscience,” is voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Keegan-Michael Key performs the role of Honest John, a red fox who resembles a human, who teams up with Gideon, a silent cat, to trick Pinocchio and earn some money in the process.
When was Pinocchio Filmed?
Image courtesy of Disney On March 17, 2021, principal photography for the Pinocchio remake began. It was officially completed on April 22 of the same year.
What is Pinocchio About?
“This live action adaptation of the well-known story of a wooden puppet who sets out on an exciting quest to become a real kid is directed by Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis. Geppetto, played by Tom Hanks, is the woodworker who creates Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) and cares for him as if he were his own son. Pinocchio’s “conscience” and guide are played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Cynthia Erivo, respectively. Keegan-Michael Key plays “Honest” John, a new character played by Academy Award® winner Lorraine Bracco is Sofia the Seagull, and Luke Evans plays The Coachman. Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana (and her marionette Sabina), Giuseppe Battiston as Seor Stromboli, and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick are all featured in the cast.”
According to this synopsis, the live-action Pinocchio remake will likely reuse plot points and scenes from its animated predecessor, just as many other Disney live-action remakes reuse plot points and scenes from their respective animated predecessors, while also making a few changes, both significant and minor.
How Does this Pinocchio Movie Differ From the Other Pinocchio Movie Coming Out in Late 2022?
Unbelievably, there are other significant Pinocchio films due out in late 2022 in addition to Disney’s Pinocchio remake. A stop-motion animated Pinocchio film featuring an all-star ensemble, including Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Cate Blanchett, and John Turturro, was co-written and co-directed by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro for Netflix. However, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is allegedly a dark and twisted rendition of the Carlo Collodi legend, whereas Disney’s new Pinocchio appears to be a faithful retelling of its famous animated picture. In a December 2021 interview with Collider’s Vinnie Mancuso, the director discussed the project as follows:
“For me, it’s a very, very personal movie. Pinocchio and Frankenstein are the same story, so that’s always been the other side for me. Because it’s essentially the same tale. I find it tremendously touching to think about a Pinocchio musical that is both entertaining and deals with subjects that I regard to be quite serious. In animation, you get to view the entire film in storyboard form countless times before adding the stop-motion. Currently, we are split 50/50 between storyboards and animation. I simply cry like a baby every time I watch the movie. It’s as touching and as personal as it gets. You’ve never seen this particular telling of the story before. It is quite dissimilar to it. The moral of the original fable—that you have to change to be a real boy—is subverted by this. You’re going to develop a physical body. This is about acting like a real boy, or a true human, in general.”
We’ll just have to wait until December 2022 to find out which new Pinocchio film is superior since Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio will be available then.
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