Paul Thomas Anderson is Writing Robert Downey Jr's 'Pinocchio' Film

[Silver Surfer]

Say what? Yep, it's actually true! THR is reporting that critically acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson is the latest to get involved in the developing the live-action Pinocchio project at Warner Bros. Actor Robert Downey Jr. has been attached to star (as Geppetto) and produce for a few years, but now it seems Warner Bros and Downey are looking at PTA to write the script - and potentially direct as well. I don't know if I can really imagine it - Paul Thomas Anderson's Pinocchio. Wow? I guess it will certainly be one-of-a-kind. Thanks to the success of films like Disney's recent live-action Cinderella, they're pushing forward on this with more momentum. And this is one of the next steps after Downey has been working on it quietly.

Our most recent update before this pegged Ben Stiller as possible director, but that was in 2013 a few years ago. Now they have Paul Thomas Anderson in the mix reworking a script that was most recently written by Michael Mitnick (The Giver). The Pinocchio fable traces back to The Adventures of Pinocchio, an 1883 story by Carlo Collodi. Carved from a piece of pine by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a small Italian village, he was created as a wooden puppet, but somehow dreamed of becoming a real boy. In this live-action version, Geppetto embarks on a quest to reunite with his missing marionette son. THR only says PTA will "write a draft with an eye toward directing." It sounds like they're curious to see what he'll come up with. I am, too.

 

[TheGodling]

You'd think of all the movies no studio would ever dare to touch again a live-action Pinocchio would certainly be somewhere around the top, but I'm in for PTA.

Is that a recent picture of PTA btw? Dude looking hella old.

 

[the cac mamba]

 

[FlyRy]

Pta stans gonna kill themselves and call him a sellout

 

[THE 101]

Umm....this is surpriinsing but kinda interesting the more I think about it.

I've loved PTA's last two despite how divisive they were. He's followed his own path and made completely uncompromised films.

But at the same time I think it's time for him to do something different and taking on a kid fantasy film and a very classic one at that has me intriqued. The og Disney animated version was one of my favorite films as a kid so I've always had an appreciation for the Pinocchio story.

It would be interesting to see how much freedom he'd get on a project like this. PTA ever since he got fukked over by the studio on his first film Sydney/Hard Eight has been very protective of his creative control on his projects and this is one of those situations where I could see him signing up to direct but then dropping out in pre-production due to interference from the suits.

But I guess he maybe justs wants his kids to be able to watch one of his films. A lot of actors and directors start thinking like this once they have families. I can't hate.

 

[THE 101]

PTA's version of Pleasure Island

 

[ciubaca]

His last 2 films were kind of mEh. Great acting but the stories were just

 

[Uncle_Ruckus]

 

[DosCadenaz]

The whale gonna be dope

 

[TheGodling]

"Remember I said I would never drink your milkshake, Gepetto?"
"Yes Pinnochio, but what..."
"I lieeeed, Gepetto! I'm so sorry! I lied and you were never supposed to know. But I have a nose! Here it is, my little wooden nose, see. Watch it. Now my nose reaches acroooooooss the room, to where you are. Because I... drank... your... milkshake! I drank it up!"