Horror icon Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise) is heading back to the big screen. Viva Pictures has officially acquired “Pinocchio Unstrung”—the latest slasher in the Twisted Child Universe—for a North American theatrical release on July 24, 2026.
Written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, the film brings the puppet’s tale to an elite London prep school. Under the influence of a sinister Cricket (Englund) and created by Geppetto (Richard Brake, “The Strangers”), Pinocchio launches a gruesome crusade to become a “real boy”—literally harvesting the pieces he needs from his victims.
“It’s a bold take on a familiar property, reimagining Pinocchio through a darker, more visceral lens,” said Victor Elizalde, President of Viva Pictures. “The horror audience has proven to be one of the most discerning and engaged in theatrical, and we’re proud to bring exhibitors a distinctive title that can cut through and drive attendance.”
The deal was negotiated by Victor Elizalde for Viva Pictures and Stuart Alson for ITN Distribution, Inc.
