‘Paddington 2’s Paul King Reportedly Steps Down As Director Of Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’
By eelyajekiM
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 at 11:00 am
It looks like Disney’s live-action take on Pinocchio will need a new puppeteer.
The film was set to be directed by Paddington and Paddington 2 director Paul King. However, it looks like that is no longer happening. At least according to the film’s cinematographer Seamus McGarvey. More on the report below.
In an interview with Discussing Film (via Collider), McGarvey said King could not commit to the project due to family reasons and that Disney was in the process of finding a new director. He added that it was highly unlikely that he would stay on the film because King had brought him in to work on the project. So it’s very likely that the new director will have a new vision for the film. Here’s what he had to say:
“I don’t think it’s a secret anymore, but the film has been cancelled over the holidays, over Christmas. The director basically pulled out of the film for family reasons. Disney are trying to find a new director”¦they’re trying to get it going, but I’m unlikely to be involved now, because Paul King, who directed Paddington 1 and 2, wanted me to be his DP on the film. Who knows the director that they eventually bring on? It probably will be delayed for some time now, it probably won’t shoot until July or August, if it does at all. Who knows if a new director – they’ll probably have their own DP that they’ll want to use. So currently I’m looking for another film.”
This is a bit of unfortunate news to those who were looking forward to a live-action adaptation of the childhood classic. Not that Disney is short on adapting their animated films into live-action ones. But this wouldn’t be the first time that a director stepped down from the project. Sam Mendes was attached as director before he walked away from it. It’s not clear who Disney is looking at as King’s replacement. However, it looks like the studio wants to start shooting soon as they are eyeing a July and August start date. And that’s just being optimistic.
But Disney has yet to confirm King’s exit. That being said, many are hoping he jumps back on to do Paddington 3 or concentrates on the new Willy Wonka film instead.
And what will happen to Pinocchio? Well, that is very unclear. One option is to rework it to fit into their Disney+ format. Something that makes sense considering they are doing that for Lady and the Tramp and The Sword in the Stone. We’ll just have to wait and see.
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Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
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