Tom Hanks as Pinocchio’s Gepetto Brings “Big” & “Toy Story” Toy Cred

Tom Hanks, President Obama, Bill Gates [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Gepetto, the magic man, creator and father of Pinocchio, makes toys of course. And word that Tom Hanks is in line to inhabit Gepetto for Disney’s new Pinocchio promises moviegoers the best cinematic toymaker since Will Ferrell put on a big green suit for Elf. Hanks would bring crazy relevant credibility to the role of Gepetto, toymaker. After stealing America’s hearts in Splash, Hanks put his permanent stamp on movie history with a giant star turn in Penny Marshall’s Big where he, yup, he made toys.

[Toy genius, boy genius Tom Hanks in BIG]

Add to that big toy significance the fact that Hanks actually was a toy in Toy Story — all of the Toy Story movies, that is — and you have the easiest casting job for Gepetto in the world. Paul King is directing the live action adaptation of the animated icon.