If you thought termites were the scariest thing that could happen to a wooden puppet, think again. Viva Pictures has officially snagged the North American rights to the viral sensation Pinocchio Unstrung, and they’re bringing the carnage to the big screen this summer.
The Dream Team of Nightmares
The latest entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe (yes, the same folks who brought you Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey) is pulling out the big guns—or rather, the big saws.
The cast list includes horror icons such as Robert Englund, who lends his voice to the “sinister Cricket.” Forget Jiminy; this bug is definitely not your conscience. Fresh from being creepy in The Strangers and Mayor of Kingstown, Richard Brake plays Geppetto.
Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Chambers of Jagged Edge Productions are back to ensure your childhood memories stay firmly in the wood chipper.
Prep School, Puppets, and Parts?
Forget the quaint village in Italy. This reimagining takes place inside an elite London prep school. Geppetto creates Pinocchio, who—under the very bad influence of Englund’s Cricket—decides he wants to be a “real boy.”
The catch? He’s going to achieve his dream one piece at a time, carving what he needs from the student body. It’s a violent crusade to look like his brother, James, and let’s say he’s not using a standard wood-carving kit.
“The horror audience is one of the most engaged in theatrical,” says Victor Elizalde, President of Viva Pictures. “We’re proud to bring a title that can truly cut through the noise.”
A Sinister Summer Tale
Get ready for a new tale of terror that guarantees to ruin your childhood. Pinocchio Unstrung slashes into theatres on July 24, 2026. A streaming release will follow.
