He was Gaston in Beauty and the Beast – now he’s the Coachman in Pinocchio. First reported in Deadline, Luke Evans is once again returning to the magical world of Disney for Disney+’s remake of their 1940 animated feature.
This is the Welsh actor’s second role as a Disney villain. In Beauty and the Beast, Gatson is the antagonist and love rival to the titular Beast. In Pinocchio, the Coachman also plays a major villainous role, luring troublesome boys to his amusement park where they are unwittingly exposed to a curse that turns them into donkeys. Following the transformation, the donkeys are then sold to circuses for profit.
Pinocchio is a beloved classic in the Disney pantheon of animated movies. According to Box Office Mojo, the original 1940’s flick scored a hefty $122 million worldwide. The movie has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus stating “Ambitious, adventurous, and sometimes frightening, Pinocchio arguably represents the pinnacle of Disney’s collected works – it’s beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant.”
Oakes Fegley is in talks to play Lampwick in the remake, while Tom Hanks has been confirmed as Geppetto. Pinocchio is set to be directed by Robert Zemeckis, who famously worked with Hanks on the beloved 1994 film Forrest Gump. The movie is expected to release on Disney+.
Pinocchio is the latest film in a seemingly endless slew of Disney live-action remakes. The big D is expected to release at least sixteen additional live-action films based on their animated properties in the future. Most recently, Peter Pan & Wendy was announced and is set to debut on Disney+ alongside Pinocchio despite initial promise of a theatrical release.
