Guillermo del Toro to Direct Pinocchio Movie for Netflix

Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro is set to direct, write and produce Pinocchio, a stop-motion animated musical for Netflix.

The retelling of the classic story will take place in Italy during the 1930s. The project, which is scheduled to begin production this fall, marks del Toro’s animated feature film directorial debut. The filmmaker previously collaborated with Netflix on the hit series Trollhunters, which he created.

Del Toro commented: “No art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio. In our story, Pinocchio is an innocent soul with an uncaring father who gets lost in a world he cannot comprehend. He embarks on an extraordinary journey that leaves him with a deep understanding of his father and the real world. I’ve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember. After the incredible experience we have had on Trollhunters, I am grateful that the talented team at Netflix is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to introduce audiences everywhere to my version of this strange puppet-turned-real-boy.”

Melissa Cobb, the VP of kids and family at Netflix, added: “Throughout his distinguished career, Guillermo has exhibited mastery in inspiring people through his magical worlds filled with unforgettable and magnificent characters, from the monsters in Pan’s Labyrinth to the aquatic creature in The Shape of Water. We are incredibly excited to expand our relationship with Guillermo and we know that his deeply touching vision for bringing Pinocchio to life on Netflix will be embraced by audiences the world over.”

Pinocchio will be produced with The Jim Henson Company and ShadowMachine.