Cynthia Erivo has been cast as the Blue Fairy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket in live-action version of Pinocchio starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto
Cynthia Erivo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have been added to the cast of the upcoming live-action version of Pinocchio.
The 34-year-old actress and 40-year-old actor are set to portray the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket, respectively, in the forthcoming Robert Zemeckis-directed project, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
The two will be seen alongside various other actors and actresses in the film, which will feature them interacting with several computer-generated characters.
New talent: Cynthia Erivo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have been cast in the upcoming live-action version of Pinocchio; the actress is seen at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards in February
Also confirmed to be starring in the project is Tom Hanks, who will play Geppetto, a kind wood-carver who creates the titular character.
The Haunting Of Bly Manor actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will provide the voice for the puppet who comes to life.
Keegan Michael-Key is set to provide a voice for the anthropomorphic fox Honest John, who serves as the main antagonist in the film.
Lorraine Bracco has also been added to the cast, and will voice a new character named Sofia the Seagull.
Notable characters: The performers are set to portray the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket, respectively, in the upcoming feature; Gordon-Levitt is pictured at the 2019 premiere of 7500
Already there: Tom Hanks was previously announced to have taken the role of Geppetto, who creates the film’s titular character; seen at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards in 2020
Other performers who have signed on to appear in Pinocchio are Luke Evans, who will portay the Coachman, and Oakes Fegley.
A live-action version of the 1940 Disney film has been in development since 1985 when famed puppeteer Jim Henson first pitched the project to the studio, who initially shot the idea down.
Interest in the project arose again in 2015, when it was announced that screenwriter Peter Hedges would be providing a script for the upcoming film.
Two years later, 1917 director Sam Mendes signed on to helm the feature, but eventually stepped down to pursue other projects.
Taking a while: A live-action version of the 1940 animated film was first brought up by Jim Henson in 1985, although the idea was initially dismissed
After Paddington director Paul King entered and exited the project, Zemeckis agreed to take charge of Pinocchio in January of last year.
The feature is set to be released exclusively through the Disney+ streaming service; no premiere date for the film has been announced.
Another adaptation of the story, which is set to premiere this year, will be co-directed by Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Gustafson.
Switching around: Sam Mendes and Paul King were set to direct the project at various points, although Robert Zemeckis eventually agreed to helm the film; the filmmaker is spotted in 2019
The Hellboy director first announced that he would be adapting the tale into a stop-motion animated film in 2008, but encountered difficulties in getting the project off the ground over the next decade.
Although many studios turned the 56-year-old filmmaker down, Netflix ultimately picked up the movie in 2018.
Del Toro’s version of Pinocchio will offer a darker interpretation of the story and will take place in pre-World War II Italy.
Confirmed cast members include Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett and the director’s longtime collaborator Ron Perlman.
Competition: Another version of Pinocchio, which will be co-directed by Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Gustafson, is set to premiere later this year at an unspecified date