As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. POPSUGAR has affiliate and advertising partnerships so we get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase.
Tom Hanks is bringing our favourite Disney dad to life. The Academy Award winner is set to star in the upcoming live adaptation of Pinocchio, playing the character of Geppetto, the wood-carver who creates and raises the puppet.
Inspired by the 1940 animated classic, the film is directed by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and stars Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as the voice of Pinocchio. Appearing alongside Benjamin will be Joseph Gordon-Levitt as mentor Jiminy Cricket, Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John and Luke Evans as the evil Coachman.
The movie will also introduce a new character, Sofia the Seagull played by Lorraine Bracco. Evans, who is best known for his role as Gaston in Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast told the D23 Inside Disney podcast that his Coachman “thankfully” looks “nothing like the character from the animation.”
“Things are not going to be the same as they were in the animation. The storyline is very, very similar, but there were some characters that [Zemeckis] was able to dramatically enhance, and the Coachman is one of those,” said Evans. “I get to use all of my musical theatre experience and skills in this character. I can’t tell you too much because I want it to be a surprise, but there are some really wonderful gifts that he gave me as an actor with the character.”
“You see a coachman in many different ways,” he added. “I don’t want to give away any more than that. But he isn’t just the average human being if that means anything to you. He’s a very unusual creature. He’s rather terrifying. If you think Gaston is scary, wait until you meet the Coachman!”
Pinocchio will premiere on Disney+ this September, but if you want your puppet-fix now then the original movie is currently available to stream on the platform.
