It's not a lie: "Pinnochio" is becoming a stop-motion animated musical, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro.
Netflix announced on Monday that the Oscar-winning director of "The Shape of Water" has found a home for his lifelong passion project on the streaming platform. The film also marks the animated feature directorial debut for Del Toro, who has served as an executive producer on DreamWorks Animation films including "Puss in Boots," "Kung Fu Panda 3" and "Rise of the Guardians" and as a producer on "The Book of Life."
The reimagining of the classic tale will be set in Italy during the 1930s, a period that also saw the rise of fascism in Italy under Benito Mussolini. Production is expected to begin this fall.
"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,'" Del Toro said in a statement.
"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," he said, "for as long as I can remember."
The new adaptation expands Netflix's existing relationship with Del Toro, who created the Emmy-winning television series "DreamWorks' Trollhunters." The next installment of the DreamWorks' Tales of Arcadia trilogy, titled "3Below," is set to debut on Dec. 21, followed by "Wizards" in 2019. He is also the creator of the upcoming Netflix series "Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight."
"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," Del Toro continued in the statement.
Del Toro _ who also helmed "Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy," "Hellboy II" and "The Devil's Backbone" _ will write the script with Patrick McHale and direct with Mark Gustafson. He will also produce with the Jim Henson Co. and ShadowMachine, which will house the stop-motion animation production. The film's puppets will be built by Mackinnon and Saunders and take inspiration from Gris Grimly's original 2002 illustrations for the Pinocchio character.
