Pinocchio is an upcoming fantasy Netflix movie set to release in late 2022. Some of the stellar voices performing in the film are Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket, David Bradley from The World’s End as Gepetto, and Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard. Gregory Mann would be taking on the role of the titular wooden boy.
This retelling of the classic tale, directed by Del Toro and Mark Gustafson, is a darker take on the plot. McGregor portrays Mr. Cricket in the trailer, introducing the story as a different one than what viewers may think they know about the fairy tale.
A key aspect in this regard is the choice del Toro makes to set the film in Mussolini’s fascist Italy. While the prominence of this setting remains to be seen, it does set del Toro’s version of Pinocchio apart from previous versions of the folk tale.
This time around, a new backstory has been revealed for Pinocchio, according to Vanity Fair. Pinocchio’s wooden body comes from the wood that sprouted from the grave of Carlo, the son of the creator of the little puppet, Geppetto. As a result of the tragic death of Geppetto’s son, del Toro suggests that Geppetto seeks a second chance at fatherhood through the creation of Pinocchio.
Here’s what the director had to say about the backstory:
“He begs for another chance at being a father, but he doesn’t recognize that the essence of his own child comes back in the form of this indomitable boy. The main conflict within Geppetto and Pinocchio is that Geppetto wanted Carlo, who was a very well-behaved, very docile kid, and he doesn’t quite get Pinocchio, who is rowdy and wild and exuberant.”
Guillermo Del Toro
The change in style brings about a more emotional flare in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio as compared to the tale’s earlier versions. Setting Pinocchio in fascist Italy may be a step towards presenting the tale in a more serious light, but it also reveals an intimately personal story beneath the popular children’s tale. In spite of Pinocchio’s exuberance and “rowdiness,” he is constructed from a place of great sorrow.
Although some children may miss the poignancy of this backstory in the animated feature this year, the change might make it more relatable to adults who enjoy it.
This dark turn for Pinocchio in a del Toro-directed film shouldn’t be surprising.
Del Toro specializes in fantasy subjects, often concerning war and global conflicts, often times with unremitting terror, as in Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. With this background, one might expect del Toro’s retelling of the Pinocchio story to be a more thought-provoking version than previous versions.
Audiences may judge the film itself once more news and official trailers of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio are released.
About Pinocchio
Pinocchio is an upcoming stop-motion animated musical fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, based on Gris Grimly’s design from his 2002 edition of the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
The film stars the voices of Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Ron Perlman, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Finn Wolfhard, Burn Gorman and John Turturro.
A dark, twisted retelling of the famous Carlo Collodi fairytale about a wooden puppet who comes to life and dreams of becoming a real boy takes place in 1930s Fascist Italy. When Pinocchio comes to life, he turns out not to be a nice boy, causing mischief and playing mean tricks.
Source: Netflix
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