'Pinocchio Unstrung' director teases 'crazy' Poohniverse crossover as horror gets first reactions

Frake-Waterfield says that crossover will unite versions of Winnie-the-Pooh, Bambi, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and others

Pinocchio Unstrung director Rhys Frake-Waterfield has shared new details about the latest instalment in the Poohniverse, while teasing that the franchise's upcoming crossover film, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, will be a wild, horror-filled take on The Avengers.

Speaking to Variety, Frake-Waterfield described Monsters Assemble as “kooky, crazy and fun”, promising that the ambitious crossover will unite the twisted versions of Winnie-the-Pooh, Bambi, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and other public domain characters introduced throughout the shared horror universe. The filmmaker said audiences should expect plenty of over-the-top action alongside the franchise's trademark gore.

Before then, fans will meet a terrifying new version of the wooden puppet in Pinocchio Unstrung. Unlike previous horror adaptations that relied heavily on CGI, the title character has been brought to life using a fully practical animatronic covered with realistic flesh-like effects.

Frake-Waterfield said using practical effects was essential to making Pinocchio feel genuinely unsettling.

"I wanted him to feel tangible and real," the director explained, adding that the animatronic helped create a far more disturbing screen presence than digital effects could achieve.

The slasher stars Richard Brake as Geppetto and horror icon Robert Englund as the voice of a sinister Cricket, with the story following the magical puppet as he embarks on a violent quest to become a real boy. Rather than retelling the classic fairy tale, the film reimagines Pinocchio as a tragic antihero whose innocence is twisted by the darkness of the world around him.

Frake-Waterfield also revealed that Pinocchio Unstrung plays a significant role in setting up Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, which is expected to begin production later this year. He likened the crossover to an R-rated horror version of Marvel's superhero team-ups, with each film introducing key characters before bringing them together.

Pinocchio Unstrung recently premiered at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, where early reactions praised its practical creature effects and unapologetically gory approach. According to reports, one audience member even fainted during a screening because of the film's graphic violence.

The film is scheduled to open in North American cinemas on July 24, 2026, continuing the expansion of the Twisted Childhood Universe, which began with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and has since grown into an interconnected horror franchise.