The voice of “Toy Story” puppet Woody could play the creator of Pinocchio in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1940 animated classic.
Tom Hanks is in line to play woodcarver and Pinocchio creator Geppetto in an undated Disney movie about the wooden puppet that wants to become a real boy.
The award-winning actor and producer has been approached over the role, according to multiple outlets including The Hollywood Reporter, Collider, Variety and TheWrap.
Hanks previously played Walt Disney himself in the 2013 period drama and “Mary Poppins” making-of, “Saving Mr. Banks.”
Paul King of the “Paddington” franchise is to direct from a script by Simon Farnaby (“Paddington 2”), Chris Weitz (“Rogue One,” “Cinderella”) and King.
Previous live-action remakes from the House of Mouse include “Beauty and the Beast,” “Cinderella,” and “The Jungle Book,” with “Dumbo” and “Aladdin” being prepared for 2019.
Disney’s “Pinocchio” remake is separate from the 2020 Netflix project which remains an animated feature; that project will use a stop-motion technique and has Guillermo del Toro as one of its co-directors.