Paul Thomas Anderson Tackles ‘Pinocchio’

This project, reported by Variety, marks PTA’s follow-up to “Inherent Vice,” which earned him an adapted screenplay Oscar nomination.

Of course there’s the chance that Anderson would also direct the adaptation of the 1883 Carlo Collodi children’s classic “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” about a wooden puppet who wants to be a real boy, assuming that Warner Bros. deems his script commercial enough. The studio released –and supported at a financial loss–Anderson’s “Inherent Vice,” which did not score at the box office ($8.6 million worldwide). So he owes them one. Anderson usually directs his scripts but demands considerable latitude. 

The best-known version of the story is Disney’s 1940 animated feature, arguably one of the least successful of the studio’s many fairy tale hits. A score of live action versions of once-animated fairy tales are in the works. 

Read: ‘Pinocchio’ Joins Roster of Live Action Fairy Tale Remakes

In Disney’s push to own the fairy tale universe–as studio label Marvel does its comic book heroes– it’s developing its own live-action version of “Pinocchio.” The relationship between lonely good-hearted wood carver Geppetto and his mendacious creation is at the center of the story which is being updated by Peter Hedges (“Pieces of April”). 

Michael Mitnick wrote a recent draft for Downey, who wants to star as Geppetto, and will produce the project with his wife Susan Downey and Dan Jinks.