Paul Thomas Anderson may be back in the director's chair with a new adaptation of "Pinocchio."

Warner Bros. and Robert Downey Jr. have hired Anderson to write a new draft of the script, raising the question of whether or not he will end up directing. Anderson has not confirmed whether he will direct, but he has never written a film that he has not directed.

The hiring of Anderson is not much of a surprise as Downey Jr. was originally slated to star in Anderson's last film "Inherent Vice." However, the actor had to back out due to his commitments for "Avengers: Age of Ultron." As a result, Joaquin Phoenix stepped in to play the lead and earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Anderson will be following in the footsteps of "The Giver" writer Michael Mitnick who wrote the first draft of the film. However, Downey Jr. has been quietly tweaking the script for the past six months. The film has been a passion project for Downey Jr. as he has been developing it for years.

It is no surprise that the movie is finally happening especially with the recent success of Disney live-action films and the recent "Cinderella."

The company has quickly turned in a number of films adapted from classic animated films including "Alice in Wonderland" and "Maleficent"

Disney is currently filming "Beauty and the Beast," which is set for March 2017 with Emma Watson and Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book," which is set for April 2016. Disney also has an adaptation of "Dumbo" in the works with Tim Burton directing.

Meanwhile, Universal is working on "The Little Mermaid." However, they are still looking for a new director as Sofia Coppola recently dropped out due to creative differences. Additionally, Warner Bros. has "Pan" this year, and that film is an origin story to "Peter Pan." The studio hopes that it will open to great numbers and could start another franchise. Joe Wright directed the film.

For "Pinocchio" Downey Jr. will play Geppetto. No other cast members haves been announced, but with a new draft on its way, it is likely more news will start pouring in.

Anderson is best known for his work on "The Master," "There Will Be Blood," "Inherent Vice" and "Boogie Nights." He is a six-time Oscar nominee and one of the most respected filmmakers of the modern era.

"Pinocchio" currently has no release date.

Related