The last time Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr worked together, we got the shot of comic joy that was Tropic Thunder. It appears they’re eager to reunite, because Stiller is now in talks to direct Downey Jr in **Pinocchio.
When the Iron Man star attended CinemaCon a couple of weeks ago, he apparently pitched the idea to Stiller, who was pimping his new comic drama** The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. No official negotiations have begun, but the pair are apparently already coming up with ideas.
The film's been in development with Warner Bros. for a while now, with Tim Burton considering directing before passing on the idea when Downey Jr and producing partner Susan Downey decided to go in a different creative direction. Jane Goldman has written at least one draft of the script, but Deadline reports that other writers are being sought. This is not to be confused with Guillermo del Toro's still-mooted stop-motion version of the story, which is also rumbling along somewhere in development.
If it all comes together, this new take on Carlo Collodi’s tale would find lonely, childless wood carver Geppetto (Downey) making his puppet son-replacement. But when Pinocchio heads off on his famous quest to become a real boy, Geppetto goes looking for his wayward puppet product.