The director behind the new Pooh horror film, Rhys Frake-Waterfield, has received death threats from fans of the family-friendly bear.
The story of Winnie the Pooh is a classic for children all over the world. Now Jagged Edge Productions has turned the safe children’s film into a dark horror film. In the film, Winnie the Pooh and Nasse Nøff become murderers.
Frake-Waterfield reveals to the AFP news agency that there have been a number of negative reactions to the project.
– Insane
– It is absolutely sick, I have been told to stop it. I have received death threats. I’ve had people say they called the police, says the director.
The film premiered in Mexico on January 26 and a UK release is set for March 10. Despite a bunch of angry fans, there are also many who are looking forward to seeing the film.
Watch the film’s trailer here:
A nationwide night event is planned and the film will have a big theatrical release to respond to fan demand. The film had a budget of less than $100,000, so this is good news for the film’s profits.
The director is satisfied with that:
– I really believed in the idea. Other people didn’t and now it’s fine.
Lots of potential
Disney still owns the rights to the cartoon versions of “Winnie the Pooh,” but the original AA Milne books entered the public domain in early 2022.
When a work is transferred to the public domain, it can be legally reused, shared and performed, without permission or cost.
This means that the creators of the new film can include elements from the original books and leave out any new elements from Disney.
– I went for Winnie the Pooh because it’s so bizarre and has so much potential to be creative, and include some fun horror moments, Frake-Waterfield told Fox.
Craig David Dowsett stars as Pooh, while Chris Cordell plays Nasse Nøff.
