Actor Tom Hanks may be portraying Geppetto in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. It seems as if Hanks has expressed his interest in the role to director Robert Zemeckis after reviewing the movie’s script. This would not be the first time Hanks and Zemeckis would work together. Previously, they both worked on Forest Gump, The Polar Express, and Castaway, so it is no surprise Hanks would approach him for this role.
Of course, Hanks is no stranger to the Walt Disney Company. He played Walt Disney himself in Saving Mr. Banks. However, he is likely most well-known among Disney fans for voicing the beloved cowboy, Woody, in Toy Story.
If you are not familiar with Pinocchio, it is the story of a little wooden puppet made by a toy maker named Geppetto. After he wishes upon a star, Pinocchio is magically brought to life. He then faces many challenges on his path to becoming a real boy.
Everything is in the early stages of negotiations, so only time will tell if we will see Tom Hanks put another Disney movie under his belt. Hanks was in talks last year to portray Geppetto, although the project fell through. Hopefully this time we will see it come to fruition.
Until then, you can take a look at other live-action remakes on Disney+ such as Aladdin, The Lion King, and coming soon, Mulan.
We’ve had July 24 on our calendars, ready to hit the theaters to catch the live-action release of Mulan. Unfortunately, there is word that the Walt Disney Company is considering postponing the movie debut.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
“Walt Disney Co. is considering postponing the July 24 release of “Mulan,” according to a person familiar with the matter, a rescheduling that could call into question hopes across Hollywood and the movie-theater industry that cinemas will be up and running next month.”
“Mulan” is currently the first major studio offering scheduled for release after theaters are expected to reopen in July. Disney is weighing the delay because the theatrical landscape continues to be unpredictable, with locations opening slower than expected and coronavirus case numbers rising, people familiar with the matter said.”
“Disney executives are expected to make a decision on “Mulan” soon.”
We have exciting news to share! The Walt Disney Company just pledged $5 million to support nonprofit organizations to advance social justice. Their first steps is a $2 million donation to the NAACP. Check out the details below as shared by Disney.
The Walt Disney Company statement is as follows:
The Walt Disney Company has pledged $5 million to support nonprofit organizations that advance social justice, beginning with a $2 million donation to the NAACP to further their longstanding work promoting social justice by eliminating disparities and racial discrimination through their advocacy and education programs.
“The killing of George Floyd has forced our nation to once again confront the long history of injustice that black people in America have suffered, and it is critical that we stand together, speak out and do everything in our power to ensure that acts of racism and violence are never tolerated,” said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This $5 million pledge will continue to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations such as the NAACP that have worked tirelessly to ensure equality and justice.”
Today’s pledge is part of Disney’s ongoing commitment to support organizations that advance social justice. For many years, Disney has worked closely with groups that advocate for and empower communities of color, including the NAACP, whose mission is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. The Company has also previously provided millions of dollars in grants to help students from underrepresented groups make the dream of higher education a reality, including $2.5 million to the United Negro College Fund.
In addition, through the Disney Employee Matching Gifts program, employees are able to increase their impact in their communities by donating to eligible organizations, with the Company matching those gifts.
Disney has used its creative resources and platforms to address issues of race and inequality. On Tuesday night, the Company aired a slate of special programming on a number of its TV networks to encourage a discussion of racism and oppression in America. The programming included an ABC News primetime special, “America in Pain: What Comes Next?,” that examined the protests and outrage across the country in response to the killing of Mr. Floyd. The special was preceded by the re-airing of two monumental and timely episodes of black-ish: “Hope,” which explores the issue of police brutality and flaws in the judicial system, and “Juneteenth,” which examines the lack of accurate representation of African Americans in our nation’s history.
Disney has released a statement addressed to its employees regarding the murder of George Floyd, and the ongoing protests throughout the country due to ongoing racial disparity. The letter is signed off on behalf of Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, and Latondra Newton.
Resolve in a Time of Unrest: A Message to Fellow Employees
Dear Fellow Employee,
The recent killing of George Floyd as well as other instances of lethal attacks and harassment of unarmed black citizens in our nation continue to drive outrage and calls for action by people of all cultural backgrounds, including many of our employees. Feelings of grief and anger cause us to confront the inscrutable idea that the lives of some are deemed less valuable – and less worthy of dignity, care and protection – than the lives of others.
While these devastating incidents are not new, there’s something unique about what’s happening in this moment. The pandemic coupled with these recent injustices have pushed the issues of racial disparity into the open.
We, too, are struggling to make sense of the recent tragedies that leave us feeling overcome with sorrow. While we don’t have all the answers, we resolve to use our compassion, our creative ideas and our collective sense of humanity to ensure we are fostering a culture that acknowledges our people’s feelings and their pain. We also realize that now more than ever is the time for us all to further strengthen our commitment to diversity and inclusion everywhere.
We intend to focus our efforts and resources to compassionately and constructively talk about these matters openly and honestly as we seek solutions. We intend to keep the conversation going, not just today, but for as long as it takes to bring about real change.
It has been announced that development for latest installment in the “Kingdom Hearts” game series has had to be delayed.
@kh_dr_na
Due to current conditions, development for KINGDOM HEARTS DARK ROAD has been delayed. We apologize for the late update, as we were trying to find some means of making a Spring release. Another announcement will be coming in early June, so please stay tuned.
“Kingdom Hearts Dark Road”, which is being developed for iOS and Android devices, was originally set to be released this Spring. Now, the producers have announced an indefinite delay on the release, put down to ‘current conditions’. “Dark Road” joins a long list of Disney entertainment releases which have been delayed this summer due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which is continuously causing great losses to The Walt Disney Company.
Alongside the apology issued on Twitter, the “Kingdom Hearts” team issued a promise that more details will be released in early June, so hopefully fans will have more of an indication of the game’s release in the upcoming weeks.
