Eight decades after the original Pinocchio movie, Disney is once again returning to the wooden doll as part of their ongoing live-action remakes. And with the release of the teaser trailer, the film appears to hold the same wholesome charm as the original. However, the trailer lacks any clear shots of Pinocchio himself, and while that may be to build tension for the grand reveal, his absence could be for a much more terrifying reason.
The reception to the numerous Disney live-action remakes has varied. 2016's The Jungle Book received praise for recapturing the original's magic, while 2019's Dumbo fell flat for many. But while the stories usually stay the same, the visuals have to be wildly different, and recreating animation in real life can give mixed results. Sometimes the realism can help make things more personal and relatable, but in other instances, it leaves characters feeling flat with a lack of charm.
So, with the upcoming Pinocchio remake, fans have been wondering how the cartoonish characters will translate to live-action. Well, Tom Hanks, in the role of Geppetto, briefly interacted with the hand of a wooden puppet in the trailer. After that, an animated Jiminy Cricket makes his appearance and seems to be a mix of art styles. He's not so realistic that he appears disturbing, but he's also not cartoonish like Roger Rabbit.
However, reluctance to show Pinocchio himself is a tad concerning. While it appears as though Disney is savoring the reveal, everyone knows what Pinocchio looks like, which makes the decision to hide him a strange one. So, the secrecy might not have anything to do with the suspense. Instead, it could be the disturbing look of a live-action Pinocchio.
One of the most infamous examples of a poor live-action adaption is the original Sonic The Hedgehog trailer, which debuted a horrifying "realistic" take on the character. The backlash was so overwhelming that Paramount went back to remodel Sonic, costing the studio millions in the process. Of course, the change was worth it, but the backlash has likely made other studios more cautious with their designs.
It's possible Disney fears facing a Sonic-like backlash over Pinocchio. If the translation of the wooden puppet doesn't hit the mark, it could end up creepy and ominous, especially since possessed dolls are popular in the horror genre. And it doesn't help that a Pinocchio live-action portrayal has already failed horrendously in the past, with 1996's The Adventures of Pinocchio providing a disturbing look for the wooden boy.
Disney will certainly unveil Pinocchio soon, and any fears will likely get put to rest. However, as things currently stand, the movie definitely doesn't need further backlash, as many people have already criticized the trailer for ruining the magic of the animated original. And with the more recent Disney remakes facing mixed reviews, Pinocchio needs to steer the ship in the right direction.