In a bid to shake up the cinematic universe landscape, Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios are gearing up to unleash a horrifying crossover event that promises to challenge Marvel’s dominance.
Following the success of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” which transformed the beloved children’s character into a feral serial killer, the filmmakers have announced “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.” This low-budget horror spectacle will bring together Winnie the Pooh and a slew of other iconic children’s characters-turned-villains in a gory frenzy set for release in 2025.
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Drawing inspiration from the blockbuster “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Poohniverse” will feature a motley crew of murderous characters including Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. The poster, exclusively revealed by Variety, showcases Pooh wielding a bear trap while riding a bloodthirsty Bambi, signaling the film’s dark and twisted tone.
Scott Chambers, actor-producer and head of Jagged Edge, expressed the desire to create an Avengers-like team-up of villains, a dream that seemed unattainable until now. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains,” Chambers remarked. “Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”
The narrative of “Poohniverse” will see the monstrous ensemble teaming up to confront survivors from previous films within Jagged Edge’s Twisted Childhood Universe. Director Rhys Jake-Waterfield, known for his work on the “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” series, will helm the project that will feature sequences of monster vs. monster and internal conflicts within the villainous ranks.
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The announcement of “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble” comes on the heels of the success of “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey,” which defied expectations with a box office haul of $5.2 million on a micro-budget of under $50,000. Standalone films for several characters, including “Bambi: The Reckoning” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,” are set to precede the crossover event.
The news also comes a week after, the Razzie Awards, which spotlight Hollywood’s alleged worst performances, showered “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” with five dubious honors, including worst picture, director, screenplay, screen couple, and remake/rip-off/sequel. Despite the critical reception, the film’s success at the box office and the anticipation surrounding its sequel and crossover event indicate that it has struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for a new era of horror cinema.