Guillermo Del Toro and Gris Grimly's 'Pinocchio' is FINALLY Happening
Dark gods of cinema be praised! The long-discussed stop-motion animation adaptation of Pinocchio from Guillermo del Toro, Gris Grimly, and the Jim Henson Company -- which I discussed with Grimly a little while back -- is finally moving forward. More on this sweet, sweet news after the jump.
According to Variety, Del Toro has announced that "Pathe has come on to develop and produce the 3D project with production starting later this year."
"Del Toro disclosed in 2008 that he had began working with Henson and Gris Grimly, who illustrated a 2002 version of "Pinocchio" [pictured above]. At that point, Grimly and Adam Parrish King were attached to co-direct but the Thursday announcement said Grimly will co-direct with Mark Gustafson, the animation Director on "The Fantastic Mr. Fox."
"'I believe that our tale of Pinocchio recaptures the darker, more daunting aspects of the book that have been missing from previous film incarnations and takes advantage of all the allegorical aspects of the tale,' Del Toro said."
"Pinocchio first appeared in the 19th century book "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. Walt Disney produced the first feature version of the story with his animated "Pinocchio" in 1940."
"In the new version, Pinocchio will embark on a series of adventures and prove himself to be as indestructible as his love for his father. Del Toro and frequent collaborator Matthew Robbins have been developing the story over the past year, and Robbins penned the screenplay."
"Del Toro will produce with Lisa Henson and Jason Lust of Henson Co. and Allison Abbate ("The Fantastic Mr. Fox"). Gary Ungar will exec produce with Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken for Pathe, with Nick Cave as music consultant for the production."
As big a fan of Disney's Pinocchio as I am, I'm well aware that ninety percent of the book's story was missing from that film. And stop-motion seems like the perfect medium in which to explore the tale's darker elements. Factor in Del Toro and Grimly, two guys who've probably never worked on a project they didn't pour their hearts into, and you got yourself one major super-sized-with-fries-and-a-sundae reason to get excited.
