Robert Downey Jr. has been attached to play Gepetto (and possibly the title character?) in a Warner Bros. PINOCCHIO movie for years now, with Ben Stiller circling to direct at one point. It figures that the project would eventually gain traction due to Downey’s apparent interest, but I didn’t expect this:
Paul Thomas Anderson- yes, that Paul Thomas Anderson- will rewrite the current draft by Michael Mitnick, and may sign on to direct.
Apparently, “Downey and Anderson are good friends and have been looking to work together for some time.” When they saluted Robert Downey Sr. at Cinefamily last December, both Downey Jr. and P.T.A. were both in attendance for at least the opening night ceremonies. P.T.A. has always been an unabashed fan of the filmmaker (remember “Buck Swope” in BOOGIE NIGHTS?), and it’s not a stretch to figure that he’s developed a relationship with Jr. through that. I’d like to think they first started gabbing about this project that night six months ago while nestled in the comfy couches of that Fairfax theater, but who the hell knows? Maybe it was all Warner’s idea.
I can’t even fathom what a P.T.A.-directed kid’s story would be, but maybe it’s too early on to even start thinking about it. He’s not exactly known for the family-friendly touch of someone like Jon Favreau, who just directed THE JUNGLE BOOK for Disney, or the effects savvy of Andy Serkis, who’s helming WB’s own JUNGLE BOOK: ORIGINS. What he does have is talent, and boatloads of it, and I don’t think he’d allow himself to be publicly attached to this project unless he thought there was something interesting and original he could do with it. Or maybe he just liked the original’s songs.
Interesting aside: if he doesn’t direct, this would be the first for-hire writing gig for Anderson. I wonder how easy it is to give P.T.A. notes…
Another, crazy tidbit: aside from Mitnick, they’ve also had drafts turned in by Bryan Fuller and Jane Goldman. I can’t imagine how those didn’t cut it for Downey/the studio, but hey, it’s their vision.
I would kinda love it if this worked out, but what do you guys figure? Should Paul Thomas Anderson direct PINOCCHIO or should he stick to his own, more adult-skewing projects?
