Disney+ has released the first look at Tom Hanks as Gepetto in the Pinocchio live-action remake. The film is set to debut on Disney+ in September 2022.
The first photo from Pinocchio couldn’t be more fitting. The image shows Hanks’ Gepetto admiring the wooden puppet sitting on his work bench, strings and all. The puppet is an exact lookalike of the animated character, naturally. Hanks is clad in a curly gray wig and mustache with a linen shirt and vest. The scenery looks just like the original animated movie as well.
Courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Pinocchio is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who along with Hanks both won Oscars for Forrest Gump in 1995. Hanks’ cast members include Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) as Pinocchio, Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket, Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John, Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull (a new character), and Luke Evans as The Coachman.
Pinocchio is a “live-action retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy.” Zemeckis cowrote the screenplay with Chris Weitz (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Simon Farnaby (Ghosts, Wonka). Both of Disney’s interpretations are based on Carlo Collodi’s original story.
Zemeckis, Weitz, Derek Hogue, Andrew Miano, and Paul Weitz are the film’s producers.Jackie Levine, Jack Rapke, Alexandra Derbyshire, and Jeremy Johns serve as executive producers. It will debut exclusively on Disney+, forgoing a theatrical release.
Another live-action remake coming to Disney+ this year is Peter Pan & Wendy. The film stars Jude Law as Captain Hook, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Gabo Anderson as Wendy, and Jim Gaffigan as Smee.
Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is also coming to the big screen soon. It will have a theatrical release, unlike Pinocchio and Peter Pan & Wendy. It stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric.
