DVDizzy Forum

Yet another live-action version of a tried-and-true Disney fairy tale is wending its way to the big screen. Peter Hedges is penning a feature loosely based on the original Pinocchio story about a boy carved from wood who dreams of becoming a real child.

DisneyJedi wrote:... Why not just do a live action Chronicles of Prydain (the whole book series)?

Sam Mendes is in early talks to direct Disney’s live-action Pinocchio; Chris Weitz wrote the current version of the script and will also be producing through his production company, Depth of Field.

Sources close to Mendes say that the director has not fully committed to helming the film yet. Mendes has not been able to meet with studio execs yet due to his commitment to his West End play “The Ferryman,” which is currently in production.

Peter Hedges penned the script, and Chris Weitz and Andrew Miano from Depth of Field are producing.

Paul King, helmer of the whimsical and acclaimed Paddington movies, has been chosen to direct the movie, with the studio hoping to being production in the fall.

Chris Weitz and his Depth of Field partner Andrew Miano are producing. Jack Thorne, who penned the surprise hit Wonder, is rewriting the script.

Sam Mendes was initially slated to direct the project but left last year. Peter Hedges and Weitz previously worked on the script.

This past February, it was reported that Paul King, the director of such films as Paddington and Paddington 2, would be helming the project, and set to write the script is none other than Chris Weitz, who recently penned Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Speaking with our own Gig Patta while promoting his upcoming directorial effort, Operation Finale, he gave us an update on the progress Pinocchio is making:

“It’s going to shot in England and Italy starting next year. We’re still in the early stages of, you know, development and developing the script, so there’s no casting to talk about, but I’m very excited about it.”