AceShowbiz - The creators behind Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey have unveiled a chilling new trailer for their upcoming film, Pinocchio Unstrung, offering a gruesome reimagining of the classic fairytale. The trailer, released on March 2, 2026, reveals a dark and violent journey where the wooden puppet Pinocchio embarks on a bloody spree to become a real boy.

Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, who is known for his work on Blood and Honey, its sequel, and Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare, the film continues his trend of twisting childhood stories into nightmarish experiences. Frake-Waterfield’s vision turns the innocent tale into a horror story filled with gore and terror.

The trailer opens with a young boy named James, portrayed by Cameron Bell, who longs for a friend. To fulfill this wish, Geppetto, played by Richard Brake, creates a wooden companion named Pinocchio. While Geppetto insists Pinocchio is alive, the puppet himself expresses a desire to be like James, despite being made of wood rather than flesh and bone.

Things take a sinister turn when Cricket, voiced by horror legend Robert Englund, who famously played Freddy Krueger, advises Pinocchio to “take what they have, piece by piece, to make yourself whole.” This marks the beginning of Pinocchio’s gruesome transformation as he escapes his home with James and sets out on a violent quest to gain human attributes.

The trailer depicts Pinocchio committing increasingly horrific acts, including scalping a woman to acquire hair and attacking a man to steal his skin. His disturbing determination to become “just like James” drives him to brutal extremes, such as ripping out intestines and inserting them into his own body, evoking the unsettling imagery reminiscent of movies like Jeepers Creepers. Meanwhile, James and other characters discover old footage that could be key to stopping Pinocchio’s deadly rampage.

The film is part of Frake-Waterfield’s ongoing Twisted Childhood Universe produced by Jagged Edge Productions, the same team behind the horror revival of Winnie the Pooh. Practical effects expert Todd Masters was brought in to oversee the animatronics, helping bring the puppet Pinocchio to life with tangible realism. Frake-Waterfield explained that using practical animatronics was essential to make the character feel authentic and grounded in the story.

Pinocchio Unstrung is uniquely told from the perspective of the puppet as he fights for control over his body while being manipulated by dark forces represented by Cricket and Geppetto. The narrative explores themes of bodily autonomy amid sinister influences.

Although an official release date has yet to be announced, the film is slated for a 2026 premiere. In addition to Pinocchio Unstrung, Jagged Edge Productions is also working on Poohniverse Monsters Assemble, a crossover project that will unite many of their most malevolent characters in one film.

With its unsettling premise and gruesome visuals, Pinocchio Unstrung promises to add a new, horrifying chapter to the twisted adaptations of beloved childhood stories.