Sam Mendes exits 'James and the Giant Peach', in talks to direct live-action 'Pinocchio'

Image from Indiewire

By Darian Scalamoni

            It was back in August that we reported that Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) was going to helm the live-action version of James and the Giant Peach. Now, Variety is reporting that Mendes has exited that film and is in early talks to helm another live-action Disney movie, Pinocchio.

            Mendes is one of the most diverse filmmakers in the industry right now but has been in franchise territory for his last two directorial efforts after helming the James Bond movies, Skyfall and Spectre. Seeing his take on Pinocchio would be stellar, though I was very excited for James and the Giant Peach. Also, Disney’s live-action version of a wooden puppet wanting to be a real boy is not the only one in development. Robert Downey Jr. has had an effort in the works for years with a script from the legendary Paul Thomas Anderson.

            Though I’d love to see Mendes do another film in the vein of American Beauty or Road to Perdition, I’m still excited to see this if it comes to fruition. Mendes also has eyeballed Beautiful Ruins and My Favorite Thing is Monsters in the recent years so we’ll see if this winds up happening.