As if to remind everybody that Disney still remembers where everything started, the streaming service dropped a trailer for its live-action adaptation of Pinocchio. Naturally, fans picked up on it - for better or for worse. Pinocchio is Disney’s second-ever animated feature-length film. Due to the popularity of the 1940 classic film, most have associated the property with Disney. However, Pinocchio is actually the protagonist of a children’s novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi from Florence, Tuscany, back in 1883. Disney also does not own the rights to the character. In fact, the upcoming Pinocchio film by Disney is not the only adaptation coming later this year. There’s Guillermo del Toro’s animated take on the tale for Netflix in December. There was also this Russian adaptation that the internet roasted in February. Going back to the topic of Disney’s live-action adaptation, the upcoming Disney Plus film features an ensemble cast of characters. Tom Hanks and Joseph Gordon-Levitt lead the way as Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket, respectively. Meanwhile, Cynthia Ervivo is the Blue Fairy as Benjamin Eva Ainsworth plays the role of the titular wooden puppet who wanted to be a real boy. The nearly two-minute-long trailer for Pinocchio shows every iconic character but features a small glimpse at Pinocchio himself. Maybe Disney is saving the lead character until they’ve got the CGI down pat? Who knows? You can’t exactly blame Disney if that’s the case after fans ripped She-Hulk: Attorney at Law apart. Having said that, there’s a ton of pressure on Disney’s Pinocchio. The original animated release is a treasure and won two Academy Awards in 1940. We’re not saying that the new live-action take should be just as good, but it does have to live up to the standards set by its predecessors. We’ll know more if Pinocchio can set the right tone for future live-action films when it premieres on September 8 - just in time for Disney Plus Day.
