New images have surfaced from the upcoming horror movie Pinocchio: Unstrung, the fifth installment in the Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU), a franchise known for transforming beloved children’s characters into gruesome slasher killers. The TCU began with 2023’s Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and has since expanded to include twisted versions of characters such as Tigger, Peter Pan, and Bambi.
Pinocchio: Unstrung follows a young man, played by Cameron Bell, who learns the dark story of the titular killer doll from his grandfather Geppetto, portrayed by Richard Brake. The movie is directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, who also helmed Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2024 sequel, and is attached to the upcoming TCU crossover, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.
Frake-Waterfield recently shared two first-look images of Jiminy Cricket—simply called “Cricket” in this universe—on his official Instagram. One shows a full-body view of the character, while the other offers a close-up of him raising a gnarled hand. Horror icon Robert Englund, famed for portraying Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, will provide the character’s voice.
While these images are not official movie stills—they feature a black void background—they hint at the character’s sinister role in the story. Unlike some TCU adaptations that include non-villainous characters (such as Christopher Robin), the horror-inspired design of Jiminy Cricket suggests he may act as a villain, potentially manipulating Pinocchio to commit increasingly dark deeds, echoing his original role as Pinocchio’s conscience in Carlo Collodi’s book and Disney’s 1940 animated film.
Fans will also notice a clear homage to Freddy Krueger in Jiminy Cricket’s appearance: his shriveled face bears a resemblance to Krueger’s iconic burn scars, and the pose with his raised hand evokes Freddy’s signature razor-glove stance. This nod to Englund’s legendary horror career may indicate further Easter eggs referencing his past slasher roles in the TCU.
Pinocchio: Unstrung promises to continue the Twisted Childhood Universe’s trend of blending familiar childhood characters with horror, offering fans a terrifying new vision of a classic tale.
