2023’s Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey is the sort of film that doesn’t simply go ignored; Watch it or not, once the very concept has fired up your neurons, good luck trying to brush it off. Who, aside from the opportunistic Rhys Frake-Waterfield would find inspiration for a horror flick within the fanciful composition of a beloved children’s tale from nearly a century ago? But find inspiration he did, and turning a pot-bellied teddy bear and his animal friends into a pack of feral woodland creatures spurned enough interest from moviegoers to launch not only a sequel but as recently announced, an entire omniverse of twisted versions of our childhood memories. The Poohniverse is nigh, kiddos.
Although the names are the same, the faces and framework have changed. Disney retains ownership of select aspects of the characters as they relate to appearance and mannerisms, but the fundamentals remain fair game for any and all to do with as they please. Such is why the first film was even a possibility, and now, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II is going to do it all over again. Pooh’s posse grows twofold this time around by including Tigger and Owl, both having entered the public domain in January 2024 and both ready to bring their distorted new personas to the Hundred Acre Wood.
While in the thick of press coverage ahead of the film’s theatrical run from March 26th – 28th, Lewis Santer let the cat out of the bag about how his portrayal of Tigger is the realization of a childhood dream come true.
Could you have ever envisioned that your first starring role would be a dark spin on a treasured child’s character?
Not at all! I’ve done a ton of Shakespeare and stuff like that; My first ever acting job was Shakespeare at the Globe and then I went from that to this. I’ve always loved prosthetics and I love Freddy Krueger and Pennywise – they’re a big inspiration for my character – so it all kind of manifested into this. It’s crazy and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
Last year, Pooh received star billing, having just become free from copyright restrictions. Tigger follows in kind this year, finding his likeness available for Blood and Honey II. And it’s a role that’s played up heftily in all the promotional materials. Did you feel any pressure in such a pivotal spot in what has now established itself as a franchise?
Not a lot, really. I felt ready for it when I first got on set. I hadn’t watched the first one – I heard of it as something that went viral, and I’d seen it on Facebook and stuff like that. When I got the role, I felt the need to watch it, and I did a few times just to see the universe they’d started to create. My thought was that I needed to do some research. I had about a month or so to prepare for the character, as I’ve never prepped for anything like this!
We know that, although Winnie-the-Pooh and friends have slipped into the public domain, there are still things that are forbidden for use. Can you share any insight into how your Tigger and the Disney version differ?
Mine is from the first books (specifically, A.A. Milne’s 1928 The House at Pooh Corner); that’s the copyright that ended. As soon as the images were released back in September, people were confused about the color of him. He wasn’t orange like the cartoon; he’s more of a brown/yellow and that’s purely because of the books. There are little details that you can’t have, and the director and producer were so on it; they know what’s not allowed. There are phrases you can’t say. I don’t know if this is a reason for that, but I don’t bounce on my tail. I don’t remember if that’s because of copyright or just because it’s too comedic.
We posed this same question to director Rhys Frake-Waterfield, and now it’s your turn: Some argue that Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II is too outlandish to be considered serious horror, but in a time of remakes and worn-thin tropes, is having a new perspective on a timeless classic such a bad thing?
Some people have said it’s ruined their childhoods, but I say, “How fragile was your childhood if this is ruining it?” I love Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger is my favorite character; I have toys from when I was like five years old at my Nan’s house, and now I’m playing him. I can appreciate all the great memories, but I think it’s quite nice to have this new take. Now, as an adult, you can still enjoy it. We’re taking classic horror characters like Jason and Michael Myers and applying them to this modern take, if that makes sense, and I think that it’s refreshing.
Tickets for Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II are available now. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s interview with RUE MORGUE is available here.
