Moviefone Editorial

Tag: lorraine bracco

  • ‘Nonnas’ Interview: Lorraine Bracco and Brenda Vaccaro

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    Premiering on Netflix beginning May 9th is the new family comedy ‘Nonnas’, which was directed by Stephen Chbosky (‘Wonder’), and stars Vince Vaughn (‘Old School’), Susan Sarandon (‘Thelma & Louise’), Lorraine Bracco (‘Goodfellas’), Brenda Vaccaro (‘Midnight Cowboy’), and Talia Shire (‘The Godfather’).

    Related Article: Drea de Matteo Talks New Thriller ‘One Way’ Starring Machine Gun Kelly

    (L to R) Brenda Vaccaro and Lorraine Bracco star in 'Nonnas'.
    (L to R) Brenda Vaccaro and Lorraine Bracco star in ‘Nonnas’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lorraine Bracco and Brenda Vaccaro about their work on ‘Nonnas’, Bracco’s first reaction to the screenplay, working with the all-star cast, the rivalry between Bracco and Vaccaro’s characters, collaborating with director Stephen Chbosky and screenwriter Liz Maccie on set, and Bracco’s experience acting opposite Vince Vaughn.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Bracco and Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, director Stephen Chbosky, and screenwriter Liz Maccie.

    Lorraine Bracco as Roberta in 'Nonnas'. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.
    Lorraine Bracco as Roberta in ‘Nonnas’. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Lorraine, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, the true story it is based on, and working with the rest of this incredible cast?

    Loraine Bracco: So, when I read the script, I loved it. I cried. I laughed. I wanted to be in the movie. The cast, I mean, it goes without saying. I have admired these women my whole life. They made great movies, great characters, great choices, so it was exciting.

    MF: Brenda, can you talk about why Antonella does not like Roberta when they first meet, and what was it fun playing out that rivalry with Loraine?

    Brenda Vaccaro: Oh my God, yes, because we never knew where we were going with it. Do you know what I’m saying? You never knew because, I mean, she would insult me, and I’d insult her, and I’d go, “What did we just do? Okay, we’re on that horse, are we?” So, I never knew when she was going to throw something at me, which I loved. It was great to work with her.

    Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella in 'Nonnas'. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.
    Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella in ‘Nonnas’. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.

    MF: Loraine, what was it like working with director Stephen Chbosky on this project?

    LB: Stephen never said cut. He was enjoying the two of us go at it. That gave us the freedom to have just as good a time as they did when Liz wrote it and when he said, “Hey honey, we’re going to do this.” Do you know what I mean? It really was a loving family.

    MF: Brenda, what was your experience like collaborating with director Stephen Chbosky and his wife, screenwriter Liz Maccie on set?

    BV: His wife, Liz, when she would visit the set, she’d say, “It’s great. I love it.” So, they were permissive. They were giving.

    (L to R) Susan Sarandon as Gia, Talia Shire as Teresa, Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella, Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella and Lorraine Bracco as Roberta in 'Nonnas'. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.
    (L to R) Susan Sarandon as Gia, Talia Shire as Teresa, Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella, Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella and Lorraine Bracco as Roberta in ‘Nonnas’. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.

    MF: Finally, Loraine, can you talk about Roberta’s connection to Joe, and what it was like for you to work with Vince Vaughn?

    LB: Well, I was very nervous, to be truthful, because I’d never really made a comedy. I didn’t even know where to start. I would look at Vince and be like, “Oh, God, what am I doing?” He would just tell me to calm down and trust myself. Even during the read-through, I would just turn to him with panic, and he’s like, “Loraine, you’re doing great. Trust me. Just believe. Make your choices and go for it.” He was very giving that way and totally helped me create Roberta. The fact that I was his mom’s best friend made our relationship very loving and caring.

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    What is the plot of ‘Nonnas’?

    After losing his beloved mother, a man (Vince Vaughn) risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with actual nonnas (grandmothers) as the chefs.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Nonnas’?

    (L to R) Lorraine Bracco as Roberta, Talia Shire as Teresa, Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella and Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella in 'Nonnas'. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.
    (L to R) Lorraine Bracco as Roberta, Talia Shire as Teresa, Brenda Vaccaro as Antonella and Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella in ‘Nonnas’. Photo: Jeong Park/Netflix © 2025.

    List of Movies and TV Shows Directed by Stephen Chbosky:

    Buy Lorraine Bracco Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Monster Summer’ Interview: Mel Gibson and Mason Thames

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    Opening in theaters on October 4th is the new spooky family adventure film ‘Monster Summer’, which was directed by actor David Henrie (‘Reagan’).

    The film stars Mason Thames (‘The Black Phone’), Kevin James (‘Grown Ups’), Lorraine Bracco (‘Goodfellas’), and Oscar-winner Mel Gibson (‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Braveheart’).

    Related Article: Ethan Hawke Talks New Horror Film ‘The Black Phone’

    (L to R) Mason Thames and Mel Gibson star in 'Monster Summer'.
    (L to R) Mason Thames and Mel Gibson star in ‘Monster Summer’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Mel Gibson and Mason Thames to talk about their work on ‘Monster Summer’, Thames’ first reaction to the screenplay, Noah’s friendship with Gene, Gibson’s approach to his character, and his experience working with the young cast and actor-turned-director David Henrie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Mason, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and joining this spooky family adventure?

    Mason Thames: Yeah, the way you just described it is so perfect, but it was just something that you don’t really see very often, and especially getting to work with Mel. I was like, “Oh, this is just a no-brainer,” so I just jumped at it. Especially, David, the director, he was the nicest person I think I’ve ever met in my life, and he had a vision for it, and getting to be a part of that was a lot of fun.

    MF: Mel, can you talk about your approach to playing Gene, the great loss he has suffered and the friendship he forms with Noah?

    Mel Gibson: Well, he’s lived life and he’s in the third act. So, he’s retired, and he’s obviously got a lot of stuff behind him, pain and stories and experience, and some of the experiences he’s had, he’s forgotten. I think meeting this kid fills a gap that was missing in his life. He was just some old guy with a hat that lived alone. Everyone thinks he buried his wife in the garden, and a lot of stories going around about the guy. Then, of course, he gets to do what he’s good at. He has a talent because he’s an old detective, and so there’s a mystery and they solve this mystery together, and it’s really a buddy movie.

    (L to R) Mel Gibson and Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    (L to R) Mel Gibson and Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Mason, how would you describe the friendship Noah forms with Gene?

    MT: Noah’s father, he died, and he was a journalist. He was missing that father figure, and in a weird way, I don’t think he was seeking it, but he found one with Gene and solving this mystery, and the weird adventure they went on. I really love that dynamic they have. It was fun to do.

    MF: What was your experience like working with Mel and creating that relationship with him?

    MT: It was a lot of fun. It was easy, especially working with him. We didn’t have much time, but we clicked easily, so it was a lot of fun.

    Mel Gibson in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mel Gibson in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Mel, in addition to being an actor you are also an Oscar-winning director. What was it like working with David Henrie, who is also an actor-turned-director?

    MG: I had a lot of empathy, and ditto what Mason said. David’s the nicest guy in the world, honestly. He truly is. So, it was so good to work with him. He’s humble, so that if I had a suggestion, he was like, “Oh yeah, let’s hear that,” or whatever. It’s a no-brainer, also. I had coffee with the guy, and I said, “Let’s go to work, man.” That’s usually what it takes, and then if there’s wrinkles in the script or story points or any of that stuff, you say, “Well, we’re going to be able to take care of that because you and I are on the same page.”

    MF: Were there any changes you needed made to the script to play the character?

    MG: I don’t know. I’m sure I had a say in what was happening. I even invented a whole backstory for the guy, and then spat it out on camera and it seemed to work. We’ll see.

    Mason Thames in 'Monster Summer'. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    Mason Thames in ‘Monster Summer’. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    MF: Finally, what was it like working with Mason and the younger cast members?

    MG: It’s great. It’s fantastic. I love working with young actors because I think that they’ve got this raw material, this diamond in the rough kind of thing, and you just watch them do it, and there’s a sense of truth in it that you can’t pretend really. It comes from a youthful innocence and exuberance and everything. It’s like, “Hey, that makes me feel younger,” when I work with young people.

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    What is the plot of ‘Monster Summer’?

    When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah (Mason Thames) and his friends, team up with a retired police detective (Mel Gibson) to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Monster Summer’?

    'Monster Summer' opens in theaters on October 4th. Photo: Pastime Pictures.
    ‘Monster Summer’ opens in theaters on October 4th. Photo: Pastime Pictures.

    List of Mel Gibson Movies:

    Buy Mel Gibson Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Pinocchio’

    Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), and Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    (L-R): Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), and Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Premiering on Disney+ on September 8th, Disney+ Day, the studio’s new version of ‘Pinocchio’ continues its drive to make newer, live-action versions of its animated output.

    Unfortunately, in the case of ‘Pinocchio’, the result is one of the much lesser examples of that effort. And that’s even more surprising given the pedigree of people behind and in front of the camera.

    Robert Zemeckis is no slouch when it comes to movies, having made the likes of the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy, ‘Forrest Gump’ (which won, let’s not forget, six Oscars), ‘Contact’, ‘Death Becomes Her’, ‘Flight’ and more.

    While he’s had a few misses in his time (‘Welcome to Marwen’ and his remake of ‘The Witches’ didn’t feel the critics’ love and didn’t do much for audiences either), he’s a proven talent. And his collaborations with Tom Hanks – ‘Gump’, for which Hanks was amongst the Oscar winners – and survival drama ‘Cast Away’ are still considered classics.

    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    (L-R): Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    It’s even more disappointing to report, then, that ‘Pinocchio’ is such a dud that has the whiff of corporate requirement that feels less like it has fairy dust sprinkled over it and more like it was pumped out by a machine.

    There are a few tweaks here and there, but this new telling of the tale follows the basic points of the original. Widowed carver Geppetto (Hanks, slathering on prosthetics and a strange accent for the second time this year after ‘Elvis’) is still grieving the loss of his son.

    He’s become a shut-in, refusing to sell most of the items in his shop and creating a new child in the shape of a puppet he names Pinocchio because the toy has white pine wood in his head.

    And just a cricket arrives seeking shelter in the shop (the Joseph Gordon-Levitt-voiced Jiminy), a fairy arrives to grant Geppetto’s wish that the puppet lad comes to life.

    Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    It’s here we should note that Cynthia Erivo, with her typically lyrical, powerful singing voice, is one of the few bright spots of the movie, effortlessly charming in a small role. With Jiminy assigned as the wooden boy’s conscience, the story proper can kick off, as Geppetto bonds with his new “child”, who can now talk and move without need of strings (‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’s Benjamin Evan Ainsworth provides his voice).

    Yet realizing that he’ll need to learn to socialize with other, human children, Geppetto encourages Pinocchio to attend school, which does not go well. Instead, he’s encouraged by wolfish, shady theatrical agent Honest John (Keegan Michael-Key) to pursue fame.

    From there, he’s soon part of a traveling puppet show run by the alternately enthusiastic and cruel Stromboli (Giuseppe Battiston), who takes him on tour. And he also falls afoul of The Coachman (Luke Evans, in a much less meaty role than his ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Gaston), who promises to whisk him and other kids away to Pleasure Island where the unfortunate kids indulge, only to transform into donkeys headed for the local mines.

    All this proceeds in roughly similar fashion to the animated version, but while that 1940 movie has long since entered the classic canon, this new ‘Pinocchio’ seems destined to do little than take up space on Disney’s streaming servers.

    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    A big issue is the CG for Pinocchio and his various friends (including Geppetto’s pet fish Cleo and kitten Figaro), which look to ape the cartoon examples, but come across as cheaper, quickly pumped out efforts that have little of the charm of the originals.

    While hewing close to the design of the 1940’s ‘Pinocchio,’ the update has wood grain and texture that you can only achieve in 3D, but he doesn’t have the same charm.

    Hanks, meanwhile, does his best to inject life into Geppetto, yet the effect is more of someone on a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit than a solid recreation of a landmark Disney title.

    Some of the performances – Key as Honest John, for example, and the sweet-natured Fabiana (a puppeteer brought to life by newcomer Kyanne Lamaya) make an impression. Fabiana, for example, is one of the new additions, who makes a connection with Pinocchio and provides some real emotion in a movie that largely struggles to generate it.

    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio,'
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    In terms of other additions, there is Sofia the seagull (Lorraine Bracco), who has a couple of moments with Jiminy but makes little impact.

    Possibly most disappointing of all is the finale, which goes through the sea monster motions as Geppetto looks to save Pinocchio only for the puppet boy to help him out instead, and then hand waves away his ultimate wish in a seconds-long wrap up from Jiminy. It’s more frustrating than magical, as though Zemeckis and co-writer Chris Weitz (with ‘Paddington’s Simon Farnaby also credited) couldn’t be bothered to truly finish the story.

    Many of the classic songs are present and correct (plus a couple of new tunes, one from Fabiana) and while Erivo knocks “When You Wish Upon a Star” out of the park, most of the others are unremarkable.

    There are several things you might wish upon a star to improve in this latest Disney movie, and you can see why the company chose to punt it straight to streaming (unlike, say, the Pixar productions ‘Soul‘ and ‘Turning Red,‘ which both deserved a theatrical release).

    We fear it’ll take more than one fairy’s worth of magic to turn this one from a wooden effort into a real, live movie.

    Tom Hanks and puppet
    Tom Hanks as Geppetto in ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Pinocchio’ receives 2 out of 5 stars.

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  • New Trailer for Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’

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    As Disney+ Day is fast approaching, the studio is making sure we all remember that one of the big launches for the day will be Robert Zemeckis’ new take on ‘Pinocchio’.

    Carlo Collodi’s tale was originally published in serial form as ‘The Story of a Puppet’ way back in July 1881. The publication stopped at Chapter 15, but popular demand meant it resumed in February 1882. Re-released in single book form in 1883, it has been hailed as one of the greatest works of Italian literature.

    It has been adapted many times for the screen – probably most famously in Disney’s own 1940 animated version, which took home Oscars for original song and score.

    Tom Hanks is once again reuniting with his ‘Cast Away’/’Forrest Gump‘/’Polar Express’ director Zemeckis for this latest blend of actors and effects. Hanks here plays Hanks’ Geppetto, the woodcarver who builds Pinocchio and treats him as if he were his own son.

    ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’s Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will be bringing vocal life to the title character, who dreams of becoming a real boy and heads out on a quest to make that happen.

    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    (L-R): Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), Tom Hanks as Geppetto, and Figaro in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Also either acting or providing voices here? Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Pinocchio’s guide Jiminy Cricket; Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John; Lorraine Bracco as a new character, Sofia the Seagull; and Luke Evans as The Coachman. Some will come to the puppet lad’s aid, while others have more nefarious plans in mind.

    This new trailer gives us our clearest look yet at Pinocchio in action, and Zemeckis’ effects team has certainly hewed to the look of the character from the animated version. His quest for humanity, meanwhile promises an epic adventure of danger and wonder, all sprinkled with some usual Disney fairy dust.

    Plus, when you hire Cynthia Erivo, you have someone who can belt out a song or two and that certainly sounds like her covering classic ‘Pinocchio’ tune ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’.

    Whether this new movie can lodge itself inside the imagination of audiences the way that the cartoon example did remains to be seen; Disney’s rooting through its animated canon for movies to transform this way have been a mixed bag so far. But there’s no denying Zemeckis’ ability to make cinematic magic.

    Yet given the popularity of the puppet boy for adaptations, Zemeckis’ new version will not just be competing with its own studio history. Guillermo del Toro has a darker, stop-motion version due on Netflix this coming December. So Disney does at least have a head (or a long nose) start.

    ‘Pinocchio’ will premiere on Disney+ on September 8th, alongside a variety of other new shows and movies.

    Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), and Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    (L-R): Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), and Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio,'
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio,' exclusively on Disney+.
    (L-R): Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney's live-action 'Pinocchio.'
    Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in Disney’s live-action ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • New Teaser Trailer for Disney’s Live Action ‘Pinocchio’

    Pinocchio
    ‘Pinocchio’ will debut on Disney+ September 8th.

    Continuing its efforts to mine its entire animated canon to fuel new movies that blend live action with CG, Disney has been planning for a while to bring puppet picture ‘Pinocchio’ into that group.

    It presents quite the challenge: the 1940 original is a beloved example of animation that won two Oscars and introduced a batch of memorable music to the world.

    Still, ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Back to the Future’ director Robert Zemeckis decided to take on the task, bringing his ‘Gump’ star Tom Hanks along for the ride and co-writing the script with Simon Farnaby and Chris Weitz. As you might expect given that this hews closer to the Disney original than Carlo Collodi’s darker source material, this is the tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy.

    Hanks stars as Geppetto, the wood carver who builds and treats Pinocchio (voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his own son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience” while Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy, who considers the wooden boy’s wish.

    One the less friendly side, we have Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John the fox, Lorraine Bracco as Sofia the Seagull (a new character), and Luke Evans as The Coachman.

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    Also in the cast are Kyanne Lamaya as Fabiana (and her marionette Sabina), Giuseppe Battiston as Señor Stromboli and Lewin Lloyd as Lampwick.

    Though the title is “Pinocchio”, this latest look at the movie certainly seems to be putting Hanks’ Geppetto front and center, which is perhaps not so surprising given that he’s the biggest name in the cast, and this marks his latest reunion with the director. The wooden character barely shows up here, reduced to a small moment at the end.

    ‘Pinocchio’ is a popular story of late, with at least two other versions in the works. Probably the biggest other example is Guillermo del Toro’s movie, which promises to dive more deeply into the horrific elements that make up Collodi’s moral fable. That one won’t be out until December via Netflix, but features the likes of Ewan McGregor, ‘Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Burn Gorman, Christoph Waltz, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, and David Bradley lending their voices.

    As for Disney’s movie, the new trailer is also the studio’s way of confirming its release date – though given the presence of Zemeckis behind the camera and Hanks in front of it, you might assume it’ll be in theaters. Instead, the studio is targeting this one for a Disney+ debut on September 8th.

    That is also this year’s Disney+ Day, when we can expect a variety of other premieres and announcements, though it’s also the day for D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which happens in Anaheim and will have its own line-up of news about forthcoming Disney movies and shows.

    Pinocchio
    ‘Pinocchio’ will debut on Disney+ September 8th.
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  • Disney’s Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’ First Look Photo

    Tom Hanks and puppet
    Tom Hanks as Geppetto in ‘Pinocchio,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Carlo Collodi’s original story ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ has been adapted so many times at this point that you start to wonder whether anything truly new can be brought to it. Robert Zemeckis is hoping there’s still some magic to be found via his new live action/CG movie, ‘Pinocchio,’ and the first image is now online.

    Tom Hanks is once again reuniting with his ‘Cast Away’/’Forrest Gump‘/’The Polar Express’ director Zemeckis for this latest blend of actors and effects. Hanks here plays  Geppetto, the woodcarver who builds Pinocchio and treats him as if he were his own son.

    ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’s Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will be bringing vocal life to the title character, who dreams of becoming a real boy and heads out on a quest to make that happen.

    Also either acting or providing voices here? Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Pinocchio’s guide Jiminy Cricket; Cynthia Erivo as the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key as “Honest” John; Lorraine Bracco as a new character, Sofia the Seagull; and Luke Evans as The Coachman. Some will come to the puppet lad’s aid, while others have more nefarious plans in mind.

    Whether Zemeckis choose to lean into the darker sides of the story (animal transformations, time spent inside a whale, the main character threatened with being turned into firewood) remains to be seen.

    It’s also a slight shame to see the movie arriving on Disney+, as Zemeckis has been a reliable source of giant-screen entertainment and with the scope of a magical tale like this, it’s tempting to wonder what it would look like in huge IMAX scale.

    Robert Zemeckis Tom Hanks Academy Awards
    (L to R) Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks excepting their Oscars for ‘Forrest Gump’ at the 67th Academy Awards.

    Collodi’s tale was originally published in serial form as ‘The Story of a Puppet’ way back in July 1881. The publication stopped at Chapter 15, but popular demand meant it resumed in February 1882. Re-released in single book form in 1883, it has been hailed as one of the greatest works of Italian literature.

    And filmmakers have flocked to put their own stamp on the story, including Roberto Benigni, Steve Barron, and Matteo Garrone.

    Plus, let’s not forget probably the most famous movie version (at least in the States): Disney’s 1940 animated release, which won Oscars for its song and score. So, no pressure everyone else.

    ‘Paddington’s Simon Farnaby worked on the script alongside ‘American Pie’s Chris Weitz and Zemeckis himself, while the director’s regular musical collaborator, Alan Silvestri, is providing the music.

    Zemeckis’ take faces competition from another version, a stop-motion animated movie that Guillermo del Toro is working on for Netflix, with a December release planned. His movie has Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, David Bradley, and John Turturro among its voice cast.

    Fortunately for Zemeckis, he not only has an earlier planned date (September, according to Disney), but he has the considerable resources of the house that Walt built behind him. Still… in the battle of the puppets, there are always strings attached.

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  • Marvel, Star Wars, & Pixar Updates from the Disney+ Day Announcements

    On Friday, November 12th, Disney+ celebrated its second anniversary with Disney+ Day, where they announced literally dozens of upcoming series from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and more. The presentations, which include some new clips, first looks, and upcoming announcements, can currently be viewed on Disney+, but Moviefone is here to break it all down for you.

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    The Marvel video presentation, which is now available on Disney+, begins with recaps of all the 2021 Marvel series that have been released so far including ‘WandaVision,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘What If…?’ Then we get an extended trailer for ‘Hawkeye,’ which drops on November 24th. We also got to see a full scene from the show, which involves Jeremey Renner’s Hawkeye and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop stealing a car and then getting into a chase while Hawkeye teaches Kate how to use his trick arrows. The sequence is one continuous shot, ending with the two heroes swinging off of a bridge on to a moving train.

    The official synopsis for the series confirms that it is set in a post-blip New York City and follows Clint Barton on a seemingly simple mission to get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old skilled archer Kate Bishop to unravel a criminal conspiracy. In addition to Renner and Stanfield, the series also features Vera Farmiga (‘The Departed’), Brian d’Arcy James (‘Spotlight’) and Florence Pugh reprising her ‘Black Widow’ role as Yelena Belova.

    The video presentation also includes fans first look at Oscar Isaac in ‘Moon Knight.’ The series will follow the story of this complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities that live inside him find themselves thrusted into a deadly war of the Gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. The clips basically show Isaac’s Marc Spencer being tortured by his dreams, with the character’s voice-over explaining that to the audience. We only get very quick glimpses of Isaac in the Moon Knight outfit, but the presentation ends with him in full costume jumping off of rooftops with the Moon lit full behind him. Actor Ethan Hawke is also set to appear as the show’s big bad.

    We also got new footage from the upcoming series, ‘She-Hulk.’ The teaser is narrated by Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, as she explains that she is a lawyer but also, something else. There is a quick body shot of Jennifer fully-green with her comic book accurate costume, although it cuts away before we see She-Hulk’s face. We also get two glimpses of Mark Ruffalo, who returns as Jennifer’s cousin, Bruce Banner/Hulk.

    The first scene shows Bruce experimenting on Jennifer when she is just a child, presumably in a flashback, but what is interesting is that he is Smart Hulk in this scene. Since ‘Shang-Chi’ gave us an end-credit scene that revealed that at some point after the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Smart Hulk reverted back to Bruce, it makes you wonder if this scene takes place between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Shang-Chi.’ If that is the case, and Jennifer was a child during that time period, it makes you wonder if the bulk of the series itself will make a time jump and take place decades after ‘Endgame’? We also get a clip that looks more like a commercial, with Jennifer and Bruce dressed in retro clothes and Jennifer saying, “”Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” which is clearly a nod to the 1970’s series, The Incredible Hulk.

    The last series to get new footage in the video presentation was ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which stars Iman Vellani as 16-year-old Kamala Khan. A Pakistani American and a fan-girl of the Avengers, Kamala is overjoyed when she discovers she has superpowers, and now must use them to find her place in the world. The footage shows her revealing her iconic mask for the first time and ends with Kamala standing on a New Jersey rooftop wearing a Captain Marvel Halloween Costume and preparing to use her powers to fly for the first time. Vellani is set to reprise her role, along with Teyonah Parris from ‘WandaVision’ and Brie Larson, in the upcoming feature film, ‘The Marvels.’

    But that’s not it! Marvel also announced a slew of new upcoming shows, some of which had been rumored, and also confirmed that ‘Loki’ and ‘What If…?’ will be getting second seasons. In fact, ‘What If…?’ will also be getting a spinoff with the new animated series ‘Marvel Zombies,’ which imagines a world where Marvel’s heroes have been turned into the undead. Staying with animation, Disney+ also announced a sequel to the classic 90’s animated X-Men series entitled ‘X-Men ’97,’ as well as ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year,’ which will look at Peter Parker’s first year in high school, and ‘I Am Groot,’ a series of original shorts starring everyone’s favorite sentient tree.

    On the live-action side, ‘Secret Invasion’ was confirmed, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics series. The show will bring Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos back together to fight a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years. Also confirmed were ‘Echo,’ which will star Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, who will be introduced in ‘Hawkeye,’ and James Gunn will write and direct ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

    Marvel also announced two new series based on the Iron Man franchise. First is ‘Armor Wars,’ which will star Don Cheadle reprising his role as War Machine. The second is ‘Ironheart,’ a series that will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Finally, Marvel confirmed the recent rumor that Kathryn Hahn will reprise her ‘WandaVision’ role as Agatha Harkness in her own series, which will be called ‘Agatha: House of Harkness.’

    LUCASFILM

    While there was no new footage included, fans got their first look at the making of the upcoming Star Wars series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’ The video is narrated by director Debbie Chow and actor Ewan McGregor and explains what fans can expect from the new series. “For this character to come back, the fans have been waiting long enough,” said McGregor. Chow explained that this is a “dark time,” for Kenobi and that it is “not safe” for him with “Jedi hunters” on the rise. McGregor said that his character has one task, which is “to keep Luke safe,” but Chow explained how that is just a starting point for the series.

    “The most beautiful thing of all is that it has brought me back together with Hayden,” McGregor said about the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. “We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Darth Vader,” added Chow. We are then given some behind the scenes shots of McGregor at rehearsal practicing his lightsaber skills. “To have another swing at each other, might be quite satisfying for everybody,” the actor teased in closing.

    Disney+ also released a Boba Fett documentary called ‘Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett.’ It is mostly a “history of the character” video and does not include any new footage from the upcoming series ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ which premieres on December 29th.

    Finally, the presentation included a video from the set of the new series ‘Willow,’ which is based on the 1988 Ron Howard-directed and George Lucas-produced movie. The film’s star, Warwick Davis returns as the title character, and introduced the cast that includes Ruby Cruz (‘Mare of Easttown’), Erin Kellyman (‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’), and Tony Revolori (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’). The video was done “tongue in cheek” with Davis playing a version of his arrogant ‘Life’s Too Short’ character and getting upset when the younger cast can’t remember the original film and begin to question why anyone would want a sequel series!

    PIXAR

    Unfortunately, Pixar did not have a lot to announce outside of a Cars-based animated series called ‘Cars on the Road,’ which will feature Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their roles as Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively. Other announcements from the animation company included behind the scenes documentaries for the upcoming feature films ‘Turning Red’ and ‘Lightyear,’ as well as a new series called ‘Win or Lose,’ which is an animated show that will highlight the perspectives of different characters as a middle school coed softball team prepares for their championship game.

    DISNEY STUDIOS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

    On the Disney Studios side, a remake of ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ was announced, which will star Gabrielle Union (‘Bad Boys II’) and Zach Braff (‘Oz the Great and Powerful’) and is set to premiere in March 2022. ‘Enchanted’ fans will be happy to learn that the long-awaited sequel, ‘Disenchanted’ will hit the streaming network in the fall of 2022 and once again star Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. It was also announced that comedians John Mulaney and Andy Samberg will star in the new live-action/CG animation film entitled ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,’ which is based on Disney’s popular chipmunk characters and will premiere in the spring of 2022.

    Director Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Pinocchio,’ based on the Disney animated classic, will bow in the fall of 2022 as well, and stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans, with the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco. Also premiering in the fall of 2022, just in time for Halloween, is ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which is a sequel to the cult classic 1990’s movie. Returning stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are all set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the new sequel. A new clip from Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary, ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ was also released featuring the legendary band performing “I Got a Feeling” in rare behind the scenes footage. The three-part documentary launches on Disney+ November 25th.

    Disney also announced a new series based on the beloved best-selling novels ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’ as well as animated spinoff series from some of their most popular films, including Baymax from ‘Big Hero Six,’ Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ and’ Zootopia+,’ which opens up the world of ‘Zootopia.’ They also announced ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,’ which will star Simon Pegg as his ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ character.

    Finally, National Geographic announced a new six-part series for 2022 called ‘Limitless’ with Chris Hemsworth. The series will follow the ‘Thor’ actor as he helps viewers discover the full potential of the human body. Nat Geo also announced a series called ‘Welcome to Earth,’ which is set to premiere on Disney+ next month. The series will be hosted by Will Smith as he encounters Earth’s greatest wonders.