Characters part of the content library of media giant Walt Disney Co DIS have hit the public domain, allowing others to use various versions of timeless classics.
A new horror franchise is uniting characters available in the public domain.
What Happened: A horror film based on Winnie the Pooh hit theaters last year and a sequel is heading to theaters soon.
"Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" grossed $1.8 million domestically and $4.9 million worldwide. A sequel is set to be released on March 26.
The filmmakers behind the two films plan to launch a crossover villain movie inspired by "Avengers: Infinity War," bringing many characters together.
"Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble" will include Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and other characters from the first two movies and pair them alongside villain versions of Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty and The Mad Hatter, according to Variety.
The film is set for a 2025 release and comes from Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios.
"As horror films, we would love an Avengers that is all villains," Jagged Edge's Scott Chambers said. "It'd have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,' ‘Scream,' all of those. 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."
Ahead of the 2025 crossover film, the companies will release several standalone films, copying a style similar to Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel released standalone films on characters and then combined them in the Avengers movies.
Upcoming titles include "Bambi: The Reckoning," "Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare" and "Pinocchio Unstrung."
Related Link: Mickey Mouse Goes From Kid’s Cartoon To Slasher Film In New Trailer
Why It's Important: These new horror films can be made because the characters are in the public domain. The bad news is the new films and images on posters or online could change the perception of those characters or potentially terrify children.
Take for example the plot of "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."
"After Christopher Robin abandons them for college, Pooh and Piglet embark on a bloody rampage as they search for a new source of food," the plot description reads.
With Steamboat Willie, a character now in public domain that became Mickey Mouse, horror versions are coming of the popular Disney character.
Photo: Jagged Edge Productions via IMDb
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