Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is confirmed to direct his first animated feature film. Oscar winner del Toro’s long wanted to create a new Pinocchio feature film, and together with Netflix he’s finally moving forward on what’s described as his passion project.
Pinocchio continues and expands Guillermo del Toro’s collaboration with Netflix. The streaming service is also of the home of del Toro’s DreamWorks’ Trollhunters, the first series in the planned Dreamworks’ Tales of Arcadia trilogy. Part two, 3Below, will premiere on December 21, 2018. Part three, Wizards, is expected to launch in 2019.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker also has Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight in the works at Netflix.
“Throughout his distinguished career, Guillermo has exhibited mastery in inspiring people through his magical worlds filled with unforgettable and magnificent characters, from the monsters in Pan’s Labyrinth to the aquatic creature in The Shape of Water. 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,” said Melissa Cobb, Vice President of Kids and Family at Netflix.
Guillermo del Toro is co-writing the script with Patrick McHale (Over The Garden Wall, Adventure Time). Mark Gustafson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) is co-directing with del Toro. Pinocchio will be a Guillermo del Toro, The Jim Henson Company (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), and ShadowMachine (Bojack Horseman, The Shivering Truth) production, with ShadowMachine housing the stop-motion animation production.
The animated film’s producers include Lisa Henson, Alex Bulkley, Corey Campodonico, Gary Ungar, and 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,” stated del Toro. “In our story, Pinocchio is 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. I’ve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember. After the incredible experience we have 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.”
Production is expected to get underway later this year.
