Sam Mendes is out as director for Disney’s live-action Pinocchio
Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, SPECTRE) will no longer direct Disney’s live-action version of their animated classic Pinocchio, according to Tracking Board. The director originally left the live-action James and the Giant Peach to take on Pinocchio. There is no word on whether or not Mendes’ departure from the film means that he’ll direct the next James Bond film. We’ll update you with any developments in that area.
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The Walt Disney Studios film will center on the wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a “real boy,” and the relationship between a father and son, the ramifications of lying and creating stories and living in a fantasy world. The original Pinocchio, based on the 1883 novel “The Adventures Of Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi, first debuted in theaters in 1940 and won two Academy Awards. There is no release date set for the live action Pinocchio.
Mendes is known for directing the 1999 film American Beauty, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director. He’s also known for films like The Road to Perdition starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law, the James Bond films SPECTRE and Skyfall. He’s also done musicals like “Caberet,” “Oliver!,” “Company” and “Gypsy.” He’s also the executive producer for the TV series The Hollow Crown and Penny Dreadful.
In the 1940 Disney-animated film Pinocchio, the lead role was voiced by Dickie Jones, Jiminy Cricket by Cliff Edwards and Master Geppetto by Christian Rubb.
So what do you guys think of a live action Pinocchio? Who would you like to see direct the film now that Sam Mendes has left? Who should play the lead role? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)