Disney is going nuts in creating live-action remakes of their animated classics but that doesn’t mean everything is going smoothly. Along with the mediocre live-action remakes we’ve seen them put out not too long ago (except The Jungle Book, that was aite), there would be a few released this year with the likes of The Lion King, Aladdin and Dumbo. The House of Mouse ain’t stopping with the remakes anytime soon though as there is also a Pinocchio live-action remake planned but it looks like we might have to wait a bit for that one.
Pinocchio was apparently supposed to start filming this year with Paddington director Paul King set to helm the project. Things seem to be going well, they have a good director and a solid premise to provide an entertaining enough cash grab but it looks like things may not be as great anymore as the film has lost its director… again.
Speaking with Discussing Film, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey confirmed that King would no longer be directing Pinocchio. He revealed that Disney ran into some problems over the holidays and even cancelled the film but it looks like it’s not really shelved just yet. He said:
“The director basically pulled out of the film, for um, family reasons. Disney are trying to find a new director, but yeah, I read those reports that Tom Hanks and all those other people, but yeah, they’re trying to get it going.”
This isn’t the first time Pinocchio lost a director as Sam Mendes (Skyfall) was initially supposed to helm the film but dropped out in 2017. Then, King came on board and well… he’s out now. As for that Hanks deal McGarvey mentioned, Tom Hanks was apparently in early talks to take on Geppetto according to a report from Collider but hell, whatever happens there would have to wait without a director.
Source: Discussing Film , Collider
