Disney+ Releases First Trailer For Live-Action Remake of “Pinocchio”
by Emily Nagle
This morning, Disney+ revealed the first trailer for the upcoming live-action remake of their 1940 animated film “Pinocchio”, which is set to premiere on their streaming platform on Disney+ Day on September 8.
Although it is a remake of one of Disney’s oldest animated films, “Pinocchio” retells a story that originated back in 1883 with Carlo Collodi’s children’s book “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. It stars Tom Hanks as childless woodcarver Geppetto, who wishes upon a star for his puppet (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) to become a real boy. His dreams come true when a Blue Fairy (Cynthia Erivo) brings Pinocchio to life, and Geppetto brings him up like his own child. However, Pinocchio has a lot of growing up to do, and seeks out an adventure to learn what being human is all about.
In addition to Hanks, the cast includes Luke Evans (“Beauty and the Beast”) as The Coachman, Keegan-Michael Key as con artist fox Honest John, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Pinocchio’s voice of reason, Jiminy Cricket. Also set to appear are Pinocchio’s cat Figaro and goldfish Cleo. “Pinocchio” will also introduce completely new characters that were not in the 1940 film, including friendly seagull Sofia (voiced by Lorraine Bracco) and Signora Vitelli (Sheila Atim).
The film will be directed by Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) with an original score by frequent collaborator, award-winning composer Alan Silvestri. Erivo will perform the film’s iconic song “When You Wish Upon A Star”.
“Pinocchio” isn’t the first film of 2022 to be based on the puppet, nor will it be the last; earlier this year, Lionsgate released the animated film “Pinocchio: A True Story”, starring Pauly Shore as the voice of the titular puppet (which became an Internet phenomenon due to its peculiar voice acting). In December, Netflix will be debuting a stop-motion animated film based on the tale, directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, and David Bradley.