Summary

• Pinocchio: Unstrung will offer an R-rated, unique take on the classic puppet story with plenty of practical gore and a high kill count.
• The upcoming film is now set for a January 2025 release and will introduce Pinocchio into the Poohniverse with a bloody bang under Rhys Frake-Waterfield's direction.
• The decision to delay the release of Pinocchio: Unstrung may benefit the franchise, giving each installment breathing room to succeed in theaters and learn from prior movies' mistakes.

With two released movies under its belt and two already in various stages of production, The Twisted Childhood Universe is forging ahead with Pinocchio: Unstrung's filming start and release windows revealed. Hailing from Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2's co-writer/director/producer Rhys Frake-Waterfield, the movie will continue his franchise of public-domain-based horror twists of childhood classics, revolving around the titular puppet brought to life as he embarks on a bloody rampage. First confirmed in early 2024, the movie was expected for a late 2024 release date alongside Bambi: The Reckoning and Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare.

Now, Variety has brought word that Pinocchio: Unstrung has not only set a filming start, but is eyeing a later release window than initially expected. The movie, which is currently selling its international rights at Cannes, is said to be slated for a September 2024 filming start, with a January 2025 release tentatively planned for the next installment in The Twisted Childhood Universe. Frake-Waterfield also shared a tease of what to expect from the upcoming movie, which he will also be taking over as director, below:

This will be an extremely unique and R-rated depiction of Pinocchio, featuring a high kill count, a subversion of the original story, and lots of practical gore. I’m going to welcome Pinocchio into the Poohniverse with a bang.

Pinocchio: Unstrung's Later Release Window Is A Good Thing

The confirmation of Frake-Waterfield directing Pinocchio: Unstrung comes as something of a surprise as the behind-the-scenes crew on the movie has remained under wraps up to this point. It also comes just a couple of months after Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 released in theaters with an expansive presentation from Frake-Waterfield and his producing partner Scott Chambers of their plans for the TCU, which also includes Bambi: The Reckoning, Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare, which Chambers is writing and directing, the crossover event Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble and a third Blood and Honey movie.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 was deemed a modest critical success in comparison to its predecessor, holding a 53% approval rating from critics and 80% from audiences, while the first holds a 3% and 50%, respectively.

The decision to push back Pinocchio: Unstrung's release window seems like it will similarly lead to other delays in TCU's slate, particularly that of Monsters Assemble. While other major franchises, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have found themselves recalibrating their overall model of releases, Frake-Waterfield ensuring there is some breathing room between installments in his horror franchise does allow for a better opportunity for the various movies to be successes in their own rights. The specific genre niche of childhood-twisting horror movies is one that's garnered general division among moviegoers, and the feeling of oversaturation with them has already become a topic of discussion.

One already-infamous example is the multiple Mickey Mouse-based projects in the works following Steamboat Willie's public domain addition, with the beloved Disney mascot now the face of four different horror movies. Though Pinocchio: Unstrung may still find itself releasing fairly close to its franchise siblings, ensuring that it stands alone in a quickly growing subgenre in its wide release would go a long way to ensuring Frake-Waterfield and co. are not only learning the proper lessons from prior installments, but also setting up a promising future.

Source: Variety