It seems like some of the biggest names in filmmaking are all tackling the story of “Pinocchio” at the same time. There’s the Netflix film that is being overseen by Guillermo del Toro. Disney has been attempting a live-action version of their classic animated tale for years. And in Italy, acclaimed filmmaker Matteo Garrone is in production on his live-action version. While the Disney and Netflix films seem very far off, Garrone is already deep into production and we have a first look at his version of the iconic tale of a wooden puppet that just wants to be a real boy.
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As seen in the new, first-look picture, we see Oscar-winning actor Roberto Benigni starring as the famous Geppetto as he looks upon what we can only suspect is the titular Pinocchio. In this version of the film, the lead character is portrayed by actor Federico Ielapi. Not much is known about Garrone’s take on the film. Previously, the filmmaker has said his take on the story is to create “a horror film for the whole family.”
Garrone made waves last year with his film “Dogman,” which earned acclaim after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Before that, the filmmaker was probably best known for working on “Tale of Tales” and “Gomorrah.”
Joining Benigni and Ielapi in the cast are Gigi Proietti, Rocco Papaleo, Massimo Ceccherini, Matilda De Angelis, Alida Baldari Calabria, Alessio Di Domenicantonio, Maria Pia Timo, and Davide Marotta.
There’s no release date set for Garrone’s “Pinocchio.” Filming began on March 11 and will commence for a reported 11 weeks before being complete.
