Paul Thomas Anderson Tackling Pinocchio Script

Paul Thomas Anderson Tackling Pinocchio Script
For Robert Downey Jr.'s planned film of the fairy tale

02 July 2015 | Written by James White | Source: The Hollywood Reporter



Here’s a filmmaking trio we’re not sure anyone could have predicted, even if they’d stapled Nostradamus’ skull to Paul the football result-predicting octopus’ memorial: Paul Thomas Anderson. Robert Downey Jr. Pinocchio. Yet they are indeed being brought together as Anderson is now aboard to rewrite and potentially direct the latest take on the puppet story.

Robert Downey Jr. and producing partner/wife Susan Downey have been trying to get this one to screens for years now, setting up the project with the idea that the once and future Tony Stark will play Geppetto, the woodcarver whose puppet boy is granted the gift of life. Hannibal’s Bryan Fuller,Kick-Ass co-writer Jane Goldman and The Giver’s Michael Mitnick are among those who have completed drafts based on Carlo Collodi’s book, but Downey hasn’t yet found what he’s looking for, even tweaking the script himself in recent months.

It doesn’t immediately sound like something Anderson would tackle, but the chance to see him bring his ideas and style to a fairy tale film has major appeal – it would certainly be something different. And the friendship between the Inherent Vice writer/director and Downey Jr. means they’re eager to work together. Fingers crossed this one works out and is amazing...