Trends are prominent in the film industry. And those identifiable trends characterize cinematic seasons. Thus, the emergence of a string of films exploring similar concepts serves as a typical indicator of an emerging season. However, some seasons are temporal while others are long-lasting. Profit and popularity are big determinants of longevity. The more money a concept makes, underlined by its popularity, the greater the assurance fans will see more of the same.

Over the years, fans have endured or rather enjoyed seasons of zombies; spoofs, witches, camcorder found footage, natural disasters, superheroes, Disney makeovers, sleeping sequels, and remakes. Respectively some trends fared well, prolonging the season, while others outlived their entertainment value. However, it appears a new trend might be emerging with the release of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.

Nightmarish Transformation of Beloved Childhood Characters

barney-kaluuya
PBS/Universal Pictures

One of the trends wherein moviegoers have found themselves immersed in the past few years is cinematic revivals. Cinemagoers have been treated to movies many people thought were put to pasture. Yet, somehow decades later, they've been resurrected. A few of the films to make a resurgence include Scream, Coming to America, Bill and Ted, Bad Boys, Legally Blond, Top Gun, and Rocky (Creed).

In February of this year, the announcement was made that Fox would be re-imagining Gumby in both live-action and animation. And now, as two more of childhood's most recognizable characters currently undergo facelifts, the question becomes, could this signal the advent of a season of transforming beloved childhood characters into walking nightmares?

How Are These Characters Being Transformed?

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey movie 2023
Altitude Film Distribution

Reportedly production of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey wrapped this month. And in this rendition of Winnie the Pooh, Pooh has exchanged his insatiable taste for honey for bloodlust. However, according to the plot, Pooh's thirst comes in earnest. He and Piglet, two of Christopher Robins' closest friends, are driven to their beastly desires. They are the victims of willful neglect. As written in Variety:

"Pooh and Piglet, the main villains, go on a rampage after being abandoned by a college-bound Christopher Robin."

So It is written that this newly formed Pooh exchanges innocence for mayhem in a real slasher of a film.

In other news, Daniel Kaluuya has his hands busy with the transformational work of pivotal childhood figure Barney. If Kaluuya succeeds, audiences will see Barney as never seen before. Kaluuya promises fans a much darker version far from his original saccharine pleasantness. The star of Get Out and the upcoming film Nope recently confirmed his dark Barney the Dinosaur movie is still happening.

Related: First Nope Reactions Have Critics Saying a Resounding 'Yes'

When questioned about the motive behind his concept, Kaluuya's responded with a personal reflection. According to Entertainment Weekly, Kaluuya felt it was time to reshape the persona of the giant purple dinosaur. His contention is Barney has been a source of much contemplation and concern for him upon his maturation.

Kaluuya told Entertainment Weekly:

"Barney taught us, 'I love you; you love me. Won't you say you love me too?' That's one of the first songs I remember, and what happens when that isn't true? I thought that was heartbreaking."

While there is no indication he will transform Barney into a murderous psycho, viewers can be assured it will not be the lovable character children remember.

Disney Vs. Blood and Honey

Winnie the Pooh movie
Walt Disney Pictures

Beyond the artistic gutsiness behind using childhood characters as nightmare fuel, other issues are bound to arise. One of the primary issues the creators of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey have found themselves concerned with is backlash from Disney. As Variety notes, "Disney retains exclusive use of their interpretations of Pooh Bear and his friends."

So, the creators walk a precarious line with their interpretation. The possibility of setting off a land mind of discontent carries a high probability. However, the creators contend they are being as careful as possible. Of course, censorship is another potential issue. When creators take imaginative leaps threatening the status quo, dissent arises. Not everyone is accepting of taking such liberties with one's childhood. This move may be particularly problematic since it involves transforming some of the most iconic, innocent, and lovable icons into dark renderings or murderous beasts.

Why is This a Thing Now?

Gumby Show
Fox Entertainment

There are many reasons underlying this move, and frankly, now is as good a time as any. As recent experiences have demonstrated, when it comes to the industry, nothing is untouchable. Furthermore, an endless stream of remakes, re-envisioning of classics, and cult classics have proven now is the time to make such leaps. Thus, this move aligns with the current trajectory in Hollywood. Given these factors, this seems like a logical progression.

Related: Movie Sequels That Had Nothing to do with the Original Film

One can also contribute this shift to what some consider a plague of unoriginality. Sometimes it's easier to work with the mold that already exists and remold the clay. But, more essentially, testing the boundaries of possibilities has always been the bent of the creative. And what better way to rattle some bones and illicit a response than rebranding the models of childhood innocence? The more pertinent question is, will viewers be spared an over-saturation of this type of re-imagining?

Which Childhood Icon Is Next?

Mickey and Minnie in Mickey Mouse
Disney–ABC Domestic Television

The creators of the new slasher waited until the character, or at least the earliest concept of the character, was public domain to take their creative leap. So there is reason to believe that any character currently in the public domain or soon-to-be public domain is up for grabs. According to Grunge, Mickey Mouse is due to be public domain in 2024, the Steamboat Willie version that is. Bugs Bunny is soon to follow. And Madeline will also be up for grabs in 2030.

If the two movies are released and do well, there is a reasonable indication the viewing audience can expect to see more of the same. And who knows what moviegoers will get next? Could it be a zombified Mickey or a Madeline succubus? Hollywood trends do seem to follow patterned behavior. Once something is done well, and the money follows, there are sure to be more to proceed.