The last time we heard from the latest adaptation of 'Pinocchio,' Robert Downey Jr. was attached to star as Geppetto, Tim Burton was attached to direct and 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' writer Jane Goldman was rewriting Bryan Fuller's script. In the months since that development, it looks like another big decision has been made in the film's development. For one thing, Burton is out and Ben Stiller is in. Secondly, in addition to taking on the role of the Pinocchio's creator/father, Downey Jr. may also play the living puppet himself.

The scoop comes from Bleeding Cool, who report that Stiller and Downey Jr. (who previously worked together on 'Tropic Thunder') are still developing the script and that things are still very much in flux. However, having Tony Stark himself take on a dual role is an idea that makes a lot of sense. For one thing, it'll officially make it a true Robert Downey Jr. vehicle, with him actually starring in the film without playing second fiddle to someone else as the title character. Secondly, it makes thematic sense. What is Pinocchio if not his father's son?

We still don't know too much about the project since it's still being developed and rewritten, but Bleeding Cool has positive things to say about Fuller's draft of the script. Downey Jr. is always fun to watch and Stiller is an interesting filmmaker who has never really had the chance to spread his wings. 'Tropic Thunder' was an extremely slick and impressively made big-budget comedy, so it'll be interesting to see how Stiller can apply his talents to a more traditional fantasy story. (We'll probably get a hint when his 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' opens later this year.)

In the meantime, let's speculate about what Robert Downey Jr. playing a child puppet would be like. Would it simply be voice work or would he get into a motion capture suit to really play the part? Would he put on a voice or would he continue to speak in his fast-talking bad-boy voice that's made him the biggest movie star on the planet? In any case, let's just be amused by the fact that Downey Jr. wants to play a talking puppet.

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