Del Toro making Pinocchio!

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November 14, 2008


Guillermo del Toro's developing "Pinocchio" as a stop-motion feature with the Jim Henson Co. as a darker version of the original fairy tale.

Project will be produced by JHC co-toppers Brian Henson and Lisa Henson along with senior VP Jason Lust. Del Toro will exec produce.

Del Toro's working on the screenplay with Gris Grimley, who illustrated a 2002 version of "Pinocchio." Grimley and Adam Parrish King will co-direct the film.

Del Toro disclosed the project in an interview with the website bloodydisgusting.com and said that it would take about three years to complete.

Pinocchio first appeared in the 19th Century book "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. Walt Disney produced the first feature version of the story with his animated "Pinocchio" in 1940.

"Pinocchio" is the latest in a long list of projects to which del Toro's attached. Top priority is New Line and MGM's "The Hobbit," the two-picture project he's committed the next five years to as director and co-writer with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

He also has a three-year first-look deal with Universal, where he's setting up remakes of "Frankenstein," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Slaughterhouse-Five" and an adaptation of "Drood" and several other projects.