Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3gets a new update, with a controversial writer having been hired to pen the script. Based on the beloved children’s book characters created by A.A. Milne, the firstBlood and Honeywas released in 2023, becoming a viral hit due to its twisted take on the material.
Made on a shoestring budget, the first film achieved box office success, leading to the release ofBlood and Honey 2last year.Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3was confirmedafter the sequel’s strong performance, but few concrete updates have emerged since.
Varietynow confirms thatcontroversial filmmaker Richard Stanley will write theBlood and Honey 3script. The report also claims that the film is eying a production start in early 2026. Stanley shared the following statement about joining the franchise:
“I am wildly excited to be joining Scott Chambers and his creative team as screenwriter on the mind-wrenching third installment of a beloved, blood-soaked saga that has revitalized independent genre film production in the U.K. The hundred acre wood will never be the same again!”
TheVarietyreport also includes the reveal that directorRhys Frake-Waterfield will not be returning to the director’s chair for the upcoming film, with franchise producing partner Scott Chambers taking his place. Frake-Waterfield will still produce the film. In a statement, Chambers expressed excitement about Stanley’s hiring:
“I’ve always been a huge fan of ‘Color Out of Space’ and all of Richard’s work. Now, with the third installment underway, I can’t wait to see his wild new vision come to life. Work has already begun — and it promises to take everything to an entirely new level.”
What This Means For Blood & Honey 3
Stanley is predominantly known for films likeThe Island of Dr. Moreau(1996) andColor Out of Space(2019). The latter marked something of a comeback for Stanley, with theNicolas Cage movieearning positive reviews from critics and audiences alike for its updated take on H.P. Lovecraft’sThe Colour Out of Space.
Stanley, however, would find himself at the center of a controversy in 2021 whenfrequent screenwriting collaborator Tracy Robertson alleged that she had been engaged in an abusive relationship with him. These accusations ledColor Out of Spaceproducer SpectreVision to cut ties with Stanley.
Stanley has denied the allegations, and it was reported in late 2021 that he filed criminal complaints against Robertson for libel, among other things. Little information has emerged about this legal situation since, but Stanley’s hiring forBlood and Honey 3suggests the controversy is of no concern to Chambers and Frake-Waterfield.
As for how Stanley’s hiring affects the content of the upcoming horror film, this remains to be seen, butthe screenwriter is known for his somewhat outlandish tone and style. Considering theWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2endingreveals, Stanley could be poised to take the franchise into some new territory.
Our Take On Stanley’s Hiring For Blood & Honey 3
Coming in the midst of an era whereCage was making some odd choicesas an actor,Color Out of Spacewas a fun and bizarre sci-fi experience with some truly outrageous moments. Though Stanley won’t be in the director’s chair forBlood and Honey 3,the energy he brings to the project could be a perfect fit for the franchise’s unique tone.
It’s possible that the controversy surrounding Stanley will affect how likely some are to support the movie, but this franchise has enough of a cult following that it may not have too big an impact. Many questions remain aboutWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, but the film is evidently progressing behind the scenes.
