Guillermo Del Toro to Direct ‘Pinocchio’ for Netflix
Following the success of Trollhunters, and fresh off his Oscar win for The Shape of Water, Guillermo Del Toro is all set to continue his relationship with Netflix with the announcement that he will direct Pinocchio for the streaming giant.
According to Variety the film, which will be the acclaimed director’s first animated feature, will be a stop motion musical adaptation of the classic tale with The Jim Henson Company handling the animation.
Set in the 1930s Italy, against a backdrop of rising fascism and Mussolini’s dictatorship, Del Toro’s Pinocchio will be “an innocent soul with an uncaring father who gets lost in a world he cannot comprehend. He embarks on an extraordinary journey that leaves him with a deep understanding of his father and the real world.”
It’s a story that is deeply personal for Del Toro. “No art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio,” he said in a statement. “I’ve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember. After the incredible experience we’ve had on Trollhunters, I am grateful that the talented team at Netflix is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to introduce audiences everywhere to my version of this strange puppet-turned-real-boy.”
Netflix is equally excited to be bringing Del Toro’s vision to their platform. “Throughout his distinguished career, Guillermo has exhibited mastery in inspiring people through his magical worlds filled with unforgettable and magnificent creatures, from the monsters in Pan’s Labyrinth to the aquatic beast in The Shape of Water.” Netflix’s VP of Kids and Family Melissa Cobb said in a statement. “We are incredibly excited to expand our relationship with Guillermo and we know that his deeply touching vision for bringing Pinocchio to life on Netflix will be embraced by audiences the world over.”
With both Disney and Warner Bros. set to release their own streaming services next year, original content is more important than ever for Netflix. Recent years have seen the streaming giant making a big push for original family content, including the expansion of DreamWorks and Del Toro’s own Trollhunters into a trilogy of series, with 3Below set to premiere in December followed by Wizards next year.
No release date has been set for Pinocchio.
Chris is a lifelong fan of Disney, Star Wars and super heroes who can’t quite believe this golden age of movies and TV we’re living in. Having written blogs dedicated to Disney’s Aladdin musical and Star Wars Celebration, Chris is excited to be part of the MNN team.
