Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 gets 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 first Blood and Honey was 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 of Blood and Honey 2 last year. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3 was confirmed after the sequel’s strong performance, but few concrete updates have emerged since.

Variety now confirms that controversial filmmaker Richard Stanley will write the Blood and Honey 3 script. 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!”

The Variety report also includes the reveal that director Rhys 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 like The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) and Color Out of Space (2019). The latter marked something of a comeback for Stanley, with the Nicolas Cage movie earning positive reviews from critics and audiences alike for its updated take on H.P. Lovecraft’s The Colour Out of Space.

Stanley, however, would find himself at the center of a controversy in 2021 when frequent screenwriting collaborator Tracy Robertson alleged that she had been engaged in an abusive relationship with him. These accusations led Color Out of Space producer 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 for Blood and Honey 3 suggests 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, but the screenwriter is known for his somewhat outlandish tone and style. Considering the Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 ending reveals, 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 where Cage was making some odd choices as an actor, Color Out of Space was a fun and bizarre sci-fi experience with some truly outrageous moments. Though Stanley won’t be in the director’s chair for Blood 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 about Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, but the film is evidently progressing behind the scenes.