From Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare arrives in theaters for three days only starting January 13th from Iconic Events Releasing. Ahead of the theatrical release, we caught up the film's writer and director, Scott Chambers, to learn all about the making of the film:
The Poohniverse is expanding to cover new twisted childhood stories. How did Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare come about as the newest entry and your latest directorial effort?
Scott Chambers: Peter Pan will feature as one of the main villains within Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, and with that filming in 2025, we wanted to introduce the audiences to him before that movie. Going into Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, we want audiences to already feel a certain way toward Pan. So it was important to release this film prior.
When putting a horrific spin on this material, what research did you do into the original Peter Pan story and adaptations? Anything interesting that you pulled in for this new film?
Scott Chambers: Looking toward the original material, I wanted to bring into the movie the things we knew well, his shadow and the use of shadows within the film being one of the main ones. You will see the use of shadows used, from the first time you meet Pan, to the first taunting call the family receive from him representing jail bars across their face showing how he has them trapped, all the way to the literal shadow Pan sees when he is high on drugs. Tinkerbell and Hook are both featured but in very unique ways, flipping everything you know about them on their head. The crocodile was bought into the mix, but in a unique way. The crocodile is used as a manipulation tactic by Pan, which I am excited for audiences to see. You will see a lot of winks to the original materials if you pay attention to the set design in particular. We worked really hard on that.
This story has a decidedly darker / serious tone than Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Can you talk about your interest in taking this story down a darker path?
Scott Chambers: I’ve always said that with this universe, we are creating that every film will be different from the last. So, unlike a universe like The Conjuring, where each movie shares a similar tone/style, ours is totally different film to film. So, if Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey wasn’t for you, then Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare very much could be. This film in particular is the darkest entry we have filmed (even above Bambi and Pinocchio, which are in final stages of the edit). It felt right to take this story down a dark route, not only because it excited me as a filmmaker, but it suited the material. Essentially, Pan is abducting children in the night and taking them to Neverland... It didn’t feel like it could ever naturally be this campy fun movie. And, with my love of gritty French cinema, such as Switchblade Romance, Inside, and Martyrs, I leaned into what I loved as an audience member.
What learnings did you take from your work on Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey that you applied to Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare?
Scott Chambers: I scaled it down. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 was reaching very high with a £320k budget and we felt the strain of that while filming. With Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, I knew I wanted a more character-focused story, more contained locations, and to write something I felt I could shoot and achieve well. Ultimately it all comes down to money and time. I am working on a very similar budget to Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2.
Can you tease some of the practical effects work and kills in Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare?
Scott Chambers: Everything in this film is practical!! I am super excited about the deaths in this. They are really nasty, sick and twisted. If you attempt to save your child from Pan, then you will truly undergo hell. Pan is every parents’ worst nightmare. There are multiple nasty moments in this film, the opening may even be Terrifier-level nasty, but it doesn’t hold as long as Terrifier. I show the nasty, but in quick cuts.
What's next for you and The Poohniverse after Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare?
Scott Chambers: We literally just finished Pinocchio: Unstrung a few days ago, and I am truly excited about this release. I think Rhys has worked extremely hard and achieved something beyond my expectations. I think Pinocchio is going to be loved by audiences. He is fully practical, no CGI!!! Also, Pinocchio is very much the lead character of the film, which I think is great.
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From Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios, the makers of Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2, comes Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, a new entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe. Written and directed by Scott Chambers, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare arrives in theaters for three days only starting January 13, 2025 until January 15, 2025 only from Iconic Events Releasing.
The newest entry into the Poohniverse follows Wendy Darling as she strikes out in an attempt to rescue her brother Michael from the clutches of the evil Peter Pan who intends to send him to Neverland. Along the way she meets a twisted Tinkerbell, who is hooked on what she thinks is fairy dust.
Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare features Megan Placito (The Salt Path, TV’s “Doctors,” “Father Brown”) as Wendy Darling, Martin Portlock (TV’s “Britain's Got Talent”) as Peter Pan, Kit Green (Dragon’s Dogma 2 video game) as Tinkerbell, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney (The Pope’s Exorcist, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2) as Michael, Kierston Wareing (Fish Tank, It’s A Free World, The Holding) as Roxy and with Nicholas Woodeson (Skyfall, The Man Who Knew Too Little, John Carter) as Steven. It is produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2) and executive produced by Stuart Alson (Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2) and Nicole Holland (Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2).
From Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare arrives in theaters for three days only starting January 13, 2025 until January 15, 2025 from Iconic Events Releasing. Buy your tickets now at Iconic Events Releasing.
After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi. Since then, it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news, reviews, interviews, and special features.
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