February 18, 2011 13:33

Guillermo del Toro producing new 'Pinocchio'

Mexican director will team up with Jim Henson Company

Guillermo del Toro is teaming up with The Jim Henson Company to create a 3D stop-motion Pinocchio film. The director will produce the new version of the Carlo Collodi fairytale. Directing duties will be handled by Fantastic Mr Fox animation director Mark Gustafson and artist Gris Grimly.

Grimly published an illustrated Pinocchio book in 2002, which will act as a general guide for the film. Nick Cave has also signed on as music consultant.

“There has to be darkness in any fairytale or children’s narrative work,” del Toro told Deadline.com. “Something the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson and Walt Disney understood."

He added: "We tend to call something Disney-fied, but a lot of people forget how powerfully disturbing the best animated Disney movies are, including those kids being turned into donkeys in Pinocchio".

Before work starts on the project del Toro is directing a 3D reboot of The Haunted Mansion for Disney. He has promised that the film will stray away from the comedic nature of the 2003 Eddie Murphy film.