Back in autumn 2010 there were rumours abound of Warner Bros considering the re-telling of the story.
Over a year later, there is finally news of their progress- along with exciting reports that the director Tim Burton could be involved.
American Beauty & Pushing Daisies talents' on board
Fans of Burton are all understandably chomping at the bit to see him sign on the dotted line.
What with the black comedy writer Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) responsible for Pinocchio's script and producer Dan Jinks (American Beauty) signed up, there is already high hopes for this adaptation.
With visionary director Tim Burton at the helm it could make for a truly groundbreaking creation.
If we think back to his bewitchingly sinister stop-motion feature, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or even his more recent twist on Alice In Wonderland, it's easy to see how Burton's post-modernistic style could transform the 19th century fable as we know it.
Robert Downey Jr “expresses serious interest”
Burton has already peaked the interest of Sherlock Holmes star, Robert Downey Jr, after admitting he envisioned the actor in the role of kindly puppet maker, Geppeto. Progress took a further step forward when Downey Jr was said to respond with "serious interest."
According to Hollywood Reporter,“Geppeto embarks on a quest to reunite with his missing marionette”, so it would seem the character is all set for a key role in this version. That combined with the chance to work with the visionary Tim Burton, it is obvious why Downey Jnr seems so eager to get involved.
Now it's just up to the pair to sign a deal with Warner Bros.
With Warner Bros strict schedules however, there's every chance either talent could be lost at any time. If either man decides to take on a different project first, they will more than likely be released from the film in order to conform to the deadlines.
With Downey Jr's casting unfortunately not yet set in stone, he has revealed other plans to bring detective novel and television series, Perry Mason, to the big screen in the near future.
No sign of Johnny Depp, yet.
Downey Jr is a marked change from Burton's usual choice of leading man, friend and colleague- Johnny Depp, but it has not yet been revealed if the Pirates star will be seen amongst the rest of the cast.
Burton and Depp have recently finished filming on a different project- spooky vampire remake, Dark Shadows. An ode to the camp 1960's cult series of the same name, it was a favourite of the childhood Burton and is currently in post-production.
Burton's dark side.
Whatever decisions are made we can be sure that Pinocchio will be long awaited by many and, if on-board, Tim Burton will carve the little puppet boy out in his own distinctive style.
If nothing else, his visual interpretation of Pinocchio and co. will make for an interesting spectacle.
Who knows, perhaps we'll see Geppeto in Sweeney Todd-esque greasepaint, or Pinocchio looking more like death warmed up than naïve wooden boy.
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