Tom Hanks in early negotiations to play Geppetto in Disney’s live-action remake of Pinocchio

Tom Hanks is in early negotiations to play Geppetto in Disney and Robert Zemeckis’ remake of its animated classic Pinocchio, according to Deadline.  After reading the script, the 64-year-old Toy Story star, reportedly reached out to  Zemeckis 'to let him know he wants to do the film.' The pair previously won Oscars together for their work on Forrest Gump in 1994, and have reunited twice for Cast Away (2000) and The Polar Express (2004.) While sources told the outlet negotiations are still 'very early,' Disney previously approached the actor about the role in their live-action adaptation. 

At the time, Paul King was attached to direct, and a deal was never finalized.   The famed Disney tale, based off of the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, was an animated film in 1940. It tells the tale of how a puppeteer, Geppetto, makes a wooden puppet named Pinocchio who strives to become a real boy at some point. 

The famed Disney tale, based off of the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, was an animated film in 1940. It tells the tale of how a puppeteer, Geppetto, makes a wooden puppet named Pinocchio 

Pinocchio's nose famously grows every time he lies, which has become an enduring cultural reference, and he has a pint-sized pal to held steer him in the right direction, Jiminy Cricket. Pinocchio would become the latest in a stream of successful live-action Disney films in recent years, like Aladdin, which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. 

The reboot of the 1992 animated classic became one of four live action remakes of the studio's animated movies to cross the billion-dollar global box office milestone, along with The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland.  Hanks is currently filming the Elvis Presley biopic, which had to halt production after he and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for COVID-19.

Daily Mail