Pinocchio has been a beloved character for generations. After numerous classic Disney adaptations, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was received with excitement when the filmmaker brought his version of the little wooden puppet to life on Netflix. However, del Toro and his co-director Mark Gustafson discussed a recently-revealed dark scene featured in the movie, which was cut for pacing purposes. Pinocchio’s directors have weighed in on the decision to ultimately remove this pivotal moment, providing insight into how it could have impacted the film.

Speaking to Comicbook, Guillermo del Toro revealed that: “We had it [Mussolini shooting Pinocchio] early on, but we originally had it as a shooting squad,” Mark Gustafson then added, “We had it as a shooting squad on the beach. That seemed a little dark, so we came to our senses.” While it undoubtedly added an aggressive and disturbing tone to Pinocchio, the directors of the film believed that this scene was just not necessary and therefore had it excised. “What it was, was the rhythm. We had already shot most of that scene, but the movie took a big, big pause for a scene that was just not necessary," the director continues. “We said, ‘Let’s be more reasonable and shoot him directly.” The director’s dark vision for Pinocchio was ultimately cut back. However, it is interesting to think about how the movie could have been different if they had gone with their original plan.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

RELATED: Pinocchio Review: Del Toro’s Great Netflix Movie Shows What Being a Real Boy Means

What Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio Gets Right That Disney’s Remake Couldn’t

     Netflix

Pinocchio is an iconic film that has been remade many times over the years, but none as masterfully as Guillermo del Toro’s. It recently achieved a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it more than three times higher than Disney’s Pinocchio remake. This shows just how powerful and timeless the classic tale is in today’s world when given the right innovative touch. Guillermo del Toro understood Pinocchio to be more than just a fable and truly captured the emotional complexity of this vibrant character. Pinocchio was brought to life in a way audiences hadn’t seen since 1940. It comes as no surprise then that this version of Pinocchio has been received with overwhelming praise.

It’s safe to say that most people who have seen both movies prefer del Toro’s interpretation. The critical acclaim and audience reception of Pinocchio speaks for itself. The director has created a work of art that will be remembered. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is now streaming on Netflix.