Nov 14, 2008–Guillermo Del Toro is developing “Pinocchio” as a stop-motion feature as a darker version of the original fairy tale.
The project will be produced by JHC co-toppers Brian Henson and Lisa Henson along with senior VP Jason Lust, and Del Toro will exec produce.
Del Toro's working on the screenplay with Gris Grimley, who illustrated a 2002 version of “Pinocchio.” Grimley and Adam Parrish King will co-direct the film.
Pinocchio first appeared in the 19th Century book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi. Walt Disney produced the first feature of the story with his animated “Pinocchio” in 1940.
“Pinocchio” is the latest in a long list of projects to which del Toro's attached. First, there's is New Line and MGM's “The Hobbit,” the two-picture project that will take five years to complete as director and co-writer with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
He also has a three-year first-look deal with Universal, where he's setting up remakes of “Frankenstein,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “Slaughterhouse-Five,” an adaptation of “Drood” and other projects.