The never-ending stream of live-action Disney adaptation of classic cartoons continues to march on.
Pinocchio, the classic tale of a naive marionette who became a real boy, is next up on the docket, and Tom Hanks is reportedly in talks to join the film as Geppetto, Pinocchio's creator.
As Collider notes, an A-list talent like Hanks "doesn't come cheap," but it wouldn't be his first Disney role, since he's also portrayed Woody in the Toy Story franchise and Walt Disney himself in 2013's Saving Mr. Banks.
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In the story, Gepetto is a widower who wishes for a son and fashions Pinocchio out of wood. After Pinocchio magically comes to life, the puppet goes on quest to become a real boy, which is easier said than done.
The project is slated to begin production next summer with a budget of around $150 million. Paul King, who directed 2014's Paddington, is attached to direct, and his Paddington partner, Simon Farnaby, is reportedly penning the latest draft of the script.
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Hanks is already slated to appear in Toy Story 4, which is set for release on June 21, 2019. Disney's next live-action adaptation of a classic cartoon will be Dumbo, which is set for release on March 29, 2019, and Aladin and The Lion King are set to be released on May 24 and July 19, respectively