The creator of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey reveals why Tigger will not appear in a new horror flick.
A.A. Milne’s renowned literary characters, established in the 1920s with illustrations by E.H. Shepard, became well-known through their animated Disney versions.
While Disney owned the collection for decades, the original Winnie-the-Pooh book became public domain in the United States in January 2022, making it open for portrayal outside Disney’s control.
Soon after, filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield announced Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a new horror picture in which Pooh and a tusked Piglet, abandoned by Christopher Robin years before, have gone feral and are on a murderous spree.
Frake-Waterfield now reveals why he chose not to include Tigger in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.
He discusses directing the upcoming slasher thriller, its odd villains, and his own perspective on the classic Winnie-the-Pooh book in an interview with SFX Magazine (via SlashFilm). He also discusses the dangers of infringing on Disney’s iconic depictions of literary characters:
Will Tigger Appear in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood & Honey 2?
Frake-Waterfield has already stated ambitions to adapt more childhood classics, such as Bambi and Peter Pan, with a horror twist and has disclosed that a sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey are already in the works.
Though the trailer for Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey explains that Pooh and Piglet have already murdered the other characters, movie fans will undoubtedly share a morbid desire to see terrifying renditions of Tigger, Rabbit, and even Eeyore, and it’s difficult to imagine continuity getting in the way of that.
Can Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood & Honey Live Up To Its Predictions?
The disturbing nature of the idea of a murdering Pooh and Piglet has grabbed headlines, but the high concept alone cannot speak for the whole quality of the yet-to-be-released picture. For example, The Mean One, a recent slasher film starring Dr. Seuss’ Grinch character, flopped with reviews.
On the other hand, horror enthusiasts are no strangers to gimmicks and campy themes. Regardless of critical reaction, horror films have a better likelihood of financial success on a low budget.
While it’s too early to tell whether Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey will appeal to a larger audience, the buzz will almost certainly fill seats when the movie hits theatres on February 15.
In terms of a terrifying Tigger, a sequel may delve further into the source material and embrace the wild notion with even more characters. Whatever the future popularity of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, the film has already demonstrated that, for better or worse, nothing is sacred in the horror genre.
