Paul Thomas Anderson to Write, Maybe Direct Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Pinocchio'

Huh! This is a bit of a head-scratcher: Paul Thomas Anderson is writing and possibly directing the live-action remake of "Pinocchio" starring Robert Downey Jr.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anderson will pen a draft with eye toward directing the film. An auteur like Anderson overseeing a remake of the classic cartoon seems like an odd pairing, though THR says it "shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Downey was poised to star in Anderson's 'Inherent Vice' until his 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' obligations got in the way and Joaquin Phoenix stepped in to play the lead."

Downey has been working on this "Pinocchio" project for years, but it's gained steam now that live-action takes on classic children's tales have achieve such success (see: "Maleficent" and "Cinderella"). Now, the studios are engaged in an arms race to turn over their libraries. Disney is filming "Beauty and the Beast" with Emma Watson. Both Disney and Warner Bros. have competing "Jungle Book" movies in development. Universal is working on a live-action "Little Mermaid," which briefly had Sofia Coppola attached to direct.

Perhaps Anderson is moving away from writing and directing original movies; his latest film, "Inherent Vice," was an adaptation of the Thomas Pynchon novel. And the last time he insisted on working with a particular star, it was with Adam Sandler on the well-reviewed "Punch-Drunk Love." So, maybe he and Downey will make more magic together.

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