Variety is reporting that Academy Award-winner Robert Zemeckis is in early negotiations to take the helm of Walt Disney Studios' upcoming live-action
Pinocchio.
While the deal hasn't been finalized just yet, Zemeckis has been eyeing the project for several months now, but didn't want to make a commitment on a new film until he completed Warner Bros.'
The Witches (starring
Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch), but with that film now complete, he was ready to move forward with Disney.
Zemeckis is expected to begin casting relatively soon, with the role of Geppetto likely the first to be cast. Tom Hanks was previously attached to the part, but ultimately passed. It remains uncertain whether Zemeckis boarding the project will be enough to bring Hanks back into the fold.
Zemeckis is, of course, best known for helming the beloved
Back to the Future trilogy and his filmography also includes other classics like
Who Framed Roger Rabbit,
Forrest Gump and
Cast Away. His more recent credits include
The Polar Express,
Beowulf,
A Christmas Carol,
Flight,
The Walk,
Allied and
Welcome to Marwen.