The Poohniverse Expands: ‘Pinocchio Unstrung’ Trailer Is Here — And It’s Brutal
A new horror twist on a classic children’s tale is on the way, and it’s not holding back.
The team behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey is back with another dark reimagining, this time turning Pinocchio into the center of a brutal slasher story in Pinocchio Unstrung.
Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and produced by Scott Jeffrey, the film presents a disturbing take on the wooden boy’s journey. Instead of chasing dreams in a magical world, this version follows a creation desperate to become human — no matter the cost.
Actor Richard Brake plays Geppetto, while horror legend Robert Englund lends his voice to a sinister version of Jiminy Cricket. Together, they guide a story that leans fully into violence and psychological darkness.
First trailer for the ‘PINOCCHIO’ horror movie set in the Poohniverse.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 2, 2026
In theaters later this year. pic.twitter.com/oC9oVZWSwj
The filmmakers built Pinocchio as a practical animatronic to give him a physical presence on screen. Frake-Waterfield explained that the film explores the puppet’s struggle for independence while being influenced by darker forces around him.
Frake-Waterfield explained his approach to the film, saying, “We built Pinocchio as a fully practical animatronic because I wanted him to feel real.” He also described the story as “a twisted coming-of-age story told from the puppet’s perspective: a creation struggling for autonomy while being manipulated by the sinister forces around him, from Robert Englund’s sinister ‘Jiminy Cricket’ to Richard Brake’s obsessive Geppetto.”
This new project comes from Jagged Edge Productions and is part of a growing shared horror world based on public domain childhood characters.
The movie is being handled for release by ITN Distribution, while Premiere Entertainment Group is managing international sales. A global theatrical rollout is currently being planned. Unlike the emotional tone of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, this version leans into shock value and body horror.
“Pinocchio Unstrung” joins a slate of dark fairy tale projects that includes Bambi: The Reckoning and Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare. The long-term plan is to bring these characters together in a crossover event titled Poohniverse Monsters Assemble.
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