Tom Hanks in live-action Pinocchio

Disney+ released the first image of their live-action Pinocchio movie, showing Tom Hanks as Geppetto, looking at his wooden puppet Pinocchio.

The live-action puppet is based on the Disney animated character with a yellow hat and white gloves. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays the puppet who wishes to be a real boy. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Jiminy Cricket. Cynthia Erivo plays the Blue Fairy, Keegan-Michael Key plays ‘Honest’ John, Lorraine Bracco plays new character Sofia the Seagull and Luke Evans plays The Coachman.

The original Carlo Collodi novel has been adapted into live-action multiple times since the Disney animated classic. An animated Pinocchio is also in the works.

Godzilla vs. Kong returns to Australia for sequel

The sequel to blockbuster Godzilla v. Kong will be filmed in Queensland, Australia, where it is expected to deliver a $79.2 million economic boost, creating 505 jobs for cast and crew, plus opportunities for 750 extras, Screen Queensland announced.

Cameras will start rolling in locations across Gold Coast and southeast Queensland later this year, according to a statement from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“We are delighted to welcome producers Legendary Pictures back to Queensland, following the filming of Kong Skull Island and Godzilla vs. Kong in the state in 2016 and 2019 respectively,” the premier said in the statement. “It’s clear our highly skilled local crew, diverse locations and first-rate facilities were definite draw cards for them to come back again.”

The details of the new sequel film have yet to be released.

Special copy of Marvel Comics #1 fetches $2.4M

A prized copy of the first-ever Marvel comic book fetched a bit under $2,427,800 in an online auction. The buyer’s name has not been disclosed.

Known as the Marvel Comics #1 “pay copy,” it’s “arguably one of the top three comic books in the world of comics collecting,” said Vincent Zurzolo, chief operating officer of ComicConnect.

Published in 1939, Marvel Comics #1 introduced characters including Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch, a precursor of the character of the same name that was later a member of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. The book launched what became the Marvel universe of comics, movies, TV shows and video games.

The very well-preserved “pay copy” is especially sought-after because it bears the publisher’s handwritten notes recording how much the multiple writers and artists were paid. For example, Frank R. Paul earned $25 for drawing the cover of a book now worth nearly 100,000 times as much.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 9th, 2022