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Robert Zemeckis

Pinocchio 2022

Disney+ Releases New Trailer for Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’

Disney+ plans to debut the new live-action “Pinocchio” on September 8, and the streamer has dropped a new trailer, photos, and a poster for the film. About the Movie Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, this live-action/CGI remake stars Disney Legend Tom Hanks as Geppetto,… Read More »Disney+ Releases New Trailer for Live-Action ‘Pinocchio’

Disney looks to Robert Zemeckis to helm live-action Pinocchio

Hollywood is abuzz with word that Disney and director Robert Zemeckis are working on a deal that would have him direct the on-again, off-again live-action remake of the animated Disney classic “Pinocchio.” The movie has had a number of directors and producers come on board… Read More »Disney looks to Robert Zemeckis to helm live-action Pinocchio

Yellow Submarine remake officially announced

As  Beatlemania sweeps the world all over again this week with the issuing of the band’s remastered catalogue on CD and The Beatles: Rock Band video game, The Walt Disney Studios, The Beatles‘ company Apple Corps Ltd., and Robert Zemeckis’ Disney-owned studio ImageMovers Digital officially announced today at the D23 Expo that a deal has been struck to “develop a new 3D performance capture adaptation  of the 1968 hit animated film Yellow Submarine to be written and  directed by Robert Zemeckis”.

Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook made the announcement, confirming Hollywood trade publication Variety‘s report from last month which said a deal was in the works —news that rankled many but made me very happy.

The film will incorporate 16 of the Beatles’ original recordings, including classic songs like “All You Need Is Love”, “Eleanor Rigby”, and “Lucy  in the Sky with Diamonds”. No target release year or date was mentioned, but there seems no reason to doubt Variety‘s claim of Summer 2012, considering the factual accuracy of the rest of their story.

Again, this is simply a dream collaboration: “one of the most exciting and anticipated project’s coming from Disney” in the next few years, as I put it in my earlier post. To have Disney and Robert Zemeckis put breathtaking 3-D images to the lyrics and melodies of the Beatles’ songs should prove to be quite an experience for moviegoers.

Interestingly, in the mini documentary included with remastered version of the Yellow Submarine album released on Wednesday, Paul McCartney conspicuously mentions Disney at least twice as an influence on the Beatles’ decision to create the original Yellow Submarine animated film (poster pictured), released in 1968.

The complete press release, with extended quotes from Cook, Zemeckis, and Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones, after the jump.

Read More »Yellow Submarine remake officially announced

Disney, Zemeckis rumored to remake Beatles classic

For quite a long time now my dream collaboration in the world of entertainment has been Disney (Pixar in particular) and The Beatles. Up until now, this seemed like my own geeky idea that would never happen in real life. You would not believe me if I told you how many… Read More »Disney, Zemeckis rumored to remake Beatles classic

Another Round for Roger Rabbit?

The MTV Movies Blog was there when Director Robert Zemeckis let loose that he’s been thinking of a return visit to Toon Town and the world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Apparently the lure of 3D and motion capture technology has him thinking about what… Read More »Another Round for Roger Rabbit?

Cameron’s 3-D Flick is Still Two Years Away, But…

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The Los Angeles Times has run an editorial on the new push for 3-D cinema.  There’s even a recounting of what sounds like an early version of Alien/Stitch Encounter: Selected chairs were equipped with hidden vibrating devices. At the film’s climactic moment, the scorpion-like Tingler seemed to rip through the screen toward the audience, then… Read More »Cameron’s 3-D Flick is Still Two Years Away, But…

Disney Open to Multiple Animation Methods

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Gina Keating of Reuters writes about Disney using hand-drawn "two-dimensional" a.k.a. "traditional" animation. Hand-drawn animation, out of fashion in the computer age, experienced a rescue worthy of a fairy tale on Thursday, when Walt Disney animators announced they would bring back the art form to the big screen. "We will be bringing back hand-drawn (two-dimensional)… Read More »Disney Open to Multiple Animation Methods