DVDizzy Forum

DisneyFan09 wrote:Glen Ballard, huh? The guy who`s behind Alanis Morissette`s famous Jagged Little Pill? An interesting choice.

Deadline can tell you first that Beauty and the Beast Gaston star Luke Evans will play The Coachman in Disney’s live-action retelling of Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto.

It’s been announced that you’ll be playing one of the villains in Pinocchio with Tom Hanks. When a story like that has been told as many times as the story of Pinocchio has, what is it about a new version, or this version specifically, that won you over?

EVANS: Well, I’ve always loved Pinocchio. It’s a timeless story. It’s a very old fairy tale or fable, whatever you want to call it. It has very powerful messages woven into the storyline, many that I think relate to young kids and young people. I don’t think it will be anything like any iteration of Pinocchio that we’ve seen before. I’m truly excited to be a part of it. I’m very honored that Disney has chosen me to play another villain in the world of Disney. I’m surrounded by some very talented people, including Mr. Hanks. It’s just a joy to think that I’m in the same film as that legend. I’m very excited about it. Very excited, indeed.

Are you surprised, with a story like that or even a story like Pinocchio, that there are still surprises that can happen with stories that we’re so familiar with?

EVANS: No, I’m not surprised. Storytellers tell stories in different ways. Pinocchio is an Italian tale, originally. If you think about the Disney animation from 1940, it’s 81 years old. Disney is bringing it to life, and they’ve done such a wonderful job in their live-action remakes. I was in one that was extremely successful. That’s a perfect example of how you can bring a story to the live-action realm and still entertain people, and they don’t feel like they’re watching something that they already know. That’s the wonderful thing about bringing real actors in to play animated characters. They bring a three-dimensional performance to it. I think it will be very exciting. I’m very excited about bringing it to a new generation.

disneyprincess11 wrote:From Jim Hawkins to Jimmy Cricket!

Gordon-Levitt is expected to sing in the film. However, he likely won’t sing “When You Wish Upon a Star,” as Jiminy Cricket does in the original animated film. The new film will include that song (which became an anthem of sorts for the Disney brand), but it may be sung by a different character.

D82 wrote:

Gordon-Levitt is expected to sing in the film. However, he likely won’t sing “When You Wish Upon a Star,” as Jiminy Cricket does in the original animated film. The new film will include that song (which became an anthem of sorts for the Disney brand), but it may be sung by a different character.

Source: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/jose ... 234920852/

D82 wrote:So, this is the cast so far:

- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth: Pinocchio (voice)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Jiminy Cricket (voice)
- Tom Hanks: Gepetto
- Luke Evans: The Coachman
- Cynthia Erivo: The Blue Fairy
- Keegan-Michael Key: Honest John (voice)
- Lorraine Bracco: Sofia the Seagull (new character, voice)

.......

It's true, this is his second voice role for Disney. Though his first work for the company was the live-action film Angels in the Outfield.

disneyprincess11 wrote:I mean, yeah. Give a Little Whistle, anyone? If not Jiminy, it's 300% the Blue Fairy. Not only does it make sense, but c'mon. How can you cast Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy and NOT have her sing WYWUAS (no matter who Jiminy is)? Glad to see I wasn’t too far off from Audra McDonald!

disneyprincess11 wrote:So, what’s left are Strombolli, Lampwick, and Gideon. I can see Gideon not being in it. The flopped London/West End-tryout stage show only had Honest John and they did cool things with him (Gideon was on his cane actually).

I’m assuming the seagull was from the novel?