Del Toro, Henson Co. work on 'Pinocchio'

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Jim Henson Co. says it is working with Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro on a 3-D stop-motion animated version of "Pinocchio."

The film will be based on the edition of Carlo Collodi's classic tale and illustrated by Gris Grimly.

Grimly will co-direct with Mark Gustafson, the animation director on "The Fantastic Mr. Fox."

The team plans to move forward with production of "Pinocchio" later this year.

Del Toro and his frequent collaborator Matthew Robbins have been developing the film's story for the past year, and Robbins wrote the screenplay.

Del Toro will produce with Lisa Henson and Jason Lust of The Jim Henson Co. and Allison Abbate.

Gary Ungar will serve as executive producer, as will Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken for Pathe.

Rock musician and film composer Nick Cave will serve as music consultant for the production.

"I believe that our tale of 'Pinocchio' recaptures the darker, more daunting aspects of the book that have been missing from previous film incarnations and takes advantage of all the allegorical aspects of the tale. Gris and Mark have a clear vision of this world. Matthew, the directors and I have constructed an adaptation that I feel enormously proud of," Del Toro said in a statement Thursday.

"Stop-motion animation will be a new style of telling this well-known tale, a hand-crafted style with which we were eager to work since it requires a high level of artistry and craftsmanship that is similar to the work of The Jim Henson Company," added Lisa Henson, chief executive officer of The Jim Henson Co.