Many fans of the beloved cartoon character of Winnie the Pooh were surprised when it was announced that a horror film titled “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” was in production. Even more shocking was the fact that Tigger, Winnie’s long-time friend and sidekick, was not included in the movie.
Writer and director Maxwell King recently addressed this curious absence in an interview. King pointed out that the decision to exclude Tigger was made because the film was aiming for a more mature tone and audience. He said that while Tigger is an essential part of the Winnie the Pooh universe, the character could have taken away from the intensity of the movie. He felt that leaving Tigger out was the best way to ensure that “Blood and Honey” was successful as a horror film.
King also stated that while Tigger was ultimately excluded, he was still heavily involved in the making of the film. He mentioned that Tigger’s absence was filled by other characters, such as Kanga and Piglet, who were able to provide Winnie with a similar level of friendship.
While Winnie the Pooh fans may be sad that Tigger was not included in “Blood and Honey”, it is clear from King’s statements that the exclusion was made with a great deal of thought and consideration. By removing Tigger from the movie, King was able to ensure that the film could reach its full potential as a horror movie.