‘Pinocchio Unstrung’ Brings Gory Puppet to Poohniverse, Director Teases Crossover Film
10 reported
"Pinocchio Unstrung," the fifth entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe also known as the Poohniverse, premiered at the Raindance Film Festival. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield told Variety the film follows a puppet who goes on a killing rampage to free a grieving boy named James from everyone evil around him, becoming a real boy in the process. The film features Richard Brake as Geppetto and Robert Englund as the voice of a sinister Cricket. Frake-Waterfield said he chose a campy, fun route for the puppet rather than a creepy doll approach, and enlisted Emmy-winning special effects artist Todd Masters to design the puppet using practical effects. The director noted the film has received some of the best reviews in the franchise, calling it "substantially improved" compared to the first "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey." Frake-Waterfield is now working on "Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble," a crossover film reuniting all characters from the universe in an "Avengers"-like fashion, which he hopes to film later this year or early next year. "Pinocchio Unstrung" is scheduled for release in the U.K. and North America on July 24.
What’s reported
"Pinocchio Unstrung" is the fifth entry in the Poohniverse, also known as the Twisted Childhood Universe.
The film follows a boy named James grieving a childhood friend; Geppetto (Richard Brake) gives him a puppet companion.
Under the influence of a sinister Cricket (Robert Englund), Pinocchio goes on a killing rampage to free James from everyone evil around him.
Frake-Waterfield said he chose a campy, crafty, and fun route for the film, not intended to be taken dead seriously.
Todd Masters, an Emmy-winning special effects artist who worked on "Child's Play" and "Dune: Part Two," designed the puppet.
The film introduces a new key character in the shape of a mother tree and foregoes the "lying is bad" narrative.
Frake-Waterfield said the film has gotten some of the best reviews in the franchise and is "substantially improved" compared to the first "Blood and Honey."
"Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble" is a planned crossover film reuniting all characters from the Twisted Childhood Universe.
The director hopes to film the crossover either later this year or early next year.
"Pinocchio Unstrung" releases in the U.K. and North America on July 24.
Key figures
Rhys Frake-Waterfield, director of "Pinocchio Unstrung" and head of Jagged Edge Productions
Richard Brake, actor playing Geppetto
Robert Englund, actor voicing the Cricket
Todd Masters, Emmy-winning special effects artist
Sources: Variety
