Poohniverse Expands: “Bambi” and “Pinocchio” Join Horror Lineup

by Annika May 18, 2024

– The creators of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” are developing a horror movie series called “Poohniverse,” including titles like “Bambi: The Reckoning” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” with the latter featuring Wendy Darling’s dark journey to rescue her brother from an evil Peter Pan.
– “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” directed by Scott Jeffrey and drawing inspiration from French cinema, promises a dark, violent film set to release on Halloween 2024, with a cast including Megan Placito as Wendy, Kit Green as Tinkerbell, and Martin Portlock as a malevolent Peter Pan.

Poohniverse Expands: “Bambi” and “Pinocchio” Join Horror Lineup

The realm of cinematic horror is set for an intriguing expansion as filmmakers craft a sinister “Poohniverse” based on beloved public domain characters. Joining this chilling ensemble will be “Bambi: The Reckoning,” “Pinocchio: Unstrung,” and the alluringly dark, “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.” Fusing childhood nostalgia with mature frights, these films are poised to offer a subversive spin on the tales many grew up with.

“Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” with a freshly released image, promises to deliver a twisted reinterpretation of J.M. Barrie’s classic, transporting audiences on a harrowing journey well beyond the innocence of the original Neverland. Here, the once benevolent Peter Pan turns malevolent, kidnapping Wendy Darling’s brother Michael and setting the stage for a perilous rescue mission. The film raises the stakes, converting the whimsical adventure into a heart-pounding struggle against malefic forces.

The narrative’s alteration is radical, with Tinkerbell succumbing to naïve confusion between heroine and pixie dust. Such a profound misstep for this legendary character undeniably hints at the darkness pervading this new version of the story. This reconceptualization implies a shift from the magical to the macabre, an approach that may tantalize horror enthusiasts and shock traditionalists.

Scott Jeffrey is at the helm for “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” announcing the film’s Halloween 2024 release with eager anticipation. Jeffrey, drawing inspiration from the suspense and artistry of French cinema, aspires to weave together elements from “Switchblade Romance” and “The Black Phone” while also injecting a unique flair into this upcoming project. Promising a grim tale replete with tension, violence, and darkness, expectations are set for a film that pushes boundaries and challenges perceptions.

The casting choices are equally provocative, with Megan Placito embodying Wendy Darling’s courage and vulnerability, Kit Green portraying an unrecognizable Tinkerbell, and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney tackling the role of Michael Darling. Joining them, Charity Kase diverges from “RuPaul Drag Race” fame to take on the role of James, and Martin Portlock steps into the muddied boots of the corrupted Peter Pan.

Public domain storytelling offers a playground for creative reimagining, where iconic characters can be recast in unfamiliar, often unsettling roles. It’s clear that the enduring appeal of Peter Pan, an early 20th-century creation, persists even as its likeness is molded into a nightmarish figure. While the Disney representation of Peter Pan remains under lock and key, this film will explore the darker corners of Barrie’s creation, taking full advantage of the character’s entry into the public domain.

Anticipation builds as production moves forward, capturing the intrigue of fans who are eager to see these childhood fixtures re-envisioned through a grim lens. Whether these films will become cult favorites or simply niche experiments in genre blending remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the audacity of such a project is a singular movement in the horror genre, offering a collision of innocence and horror that may just redefine what it means to be a fear-filled, fairy tale-inspired feature.

As this “Poohniverse” horror universe takes shape, it will undoubtedly encapsulate the dichotomy between the familiar warmth of childhood stories and the visceral chill of horror, crafting an experience meant for those who dare to explore the shadowy depths of what was once deemed pure fantasy.