If Disney hires Robert Zemeckis to direct a live-action “Pinocchio” remake, you better believe Tom Hanks is on board to star, right? And that’s exactly what’s happening. But Tom Hanks can’t possibly play all the characters, so now we know who the filmmaker is bringing out to join the Oscar-winning actor in Disney’s latest attempt to remake a classic animated feature.
According to THR, Disney is bringing on Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth to round out the cast for its upcoming “Pinocchio” remake that will begin production in the UK later this year. The biggest role, that of the title character, will be portrayed by the young Ainsworth. Erivo is set to play the Blue Fairy, while Gordon-Levitt will give the voice for Jiminy Crickett. Key is on board as Honest John. And last, but not least, is Bracco, who will voice Sofia the Seagull, a new character created solely for the remake.
Of course, Hanks is already attached as the person who will play Geppetto, the lonely puppet maker that creates Pinocchio, which leads the wooden puppet on a journey to become a real boy.
As you might imagine from a film that has Zemeckis aboard as a director, “Pinocchio” is going to combine live-action with a heavy dose of CGI to bring the story to life. We’ve seen the filmmaker utilize heavy CGI in films like “The Polar Express,” “Beowulf,” and “A Christmas Carol.” Even one of his more dramatic efforts, “Welcome to Marwen,” was filled with a ton of CGI effects.
As mentioned, “Pinocchio” is set to go into production later this year, with a 2022 release date likely. And we already know that “Pinocchio” will be released directly onto Disney+ when it finally does get released.