In celebration of Disney+ Day and the premiere of Disney’s live-action Pinocchio remake on the streaming service, a new featurette has been unveiled, providing viewers with a more in-depth look at the picture while also reminding them of the importance of staying true to the source material. Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, and Luke Evans, among others, are featured in the featurette and express their appreciation for the remake’s respect for the original film’s heritage. Scenes from the live-action and animated films are superimposed on top of each other in perfect time for a side-by-side comparison of the two adaptations.
When the animated version is shown, it helps viewers recall the memorable scenes from the original narrative they knew as children. The documentary also includes an appearance by Who Framed Roger Rabbit director Robert Zemeckis, who talks about how viewing Pinocchio as a kid was one of his first cinematic memories. The new featurette relies largely on nostalgic imagery, which is indicative of a trend among the recent spate of live-action Disney remakes that aim to cash in on the audience’s fondness for the studio’s legendary animated films. Disney+’s new Pinocchio has opened to mixed to unfavourable reviews from critics, with some saying the film doesn’t add anything to the original narrative and others saying it’s occasionally off-putting.
Pinocchio now has a 47% audience rating and a 32% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, both of which are significant drops from the original’s pristine 100% rating. Several live-action Disney remakes are in production or development despite the negative reception they’ve received. The live-action The Little Mermaid movie starring Halle Bailey (Grown-ish) as Ariel is scheduled for a May 26, 2023, cinema release.
Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) and Gal Gadot, is now filming as well (Wonder Woman). A live-action Peter Pan adaptation, Peter & Wendy, will debut exclusively on Disney+ at a later date. Director Guillermo del Toro plans to release a stop-motion animated version of the timeless tale later this year. The film’s release date has not been announced, but it will likely premiere on Netflix in December. Disney+ subscribers may now enjoy the animated classic Pinocchio.