The first trailer for ‘Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare’ was released last month, showcasing a reimagined version of the classic characters Captain Hook and Tinker Bell, now depicted as a drug-addicted fairy.
Following the trend set by ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’ and its sequel, the third installment in the so-called Twisted Childhood Universe, or the ‘Poohniverse,’ is set to hit theaters for a three-day run starting January 13.
According to director Scott Chambers, Tinker Bell has been reimagined as Timmy, a biologically male character transformed into a fairy through Peter Pan’s use of ‘pixie dust.’
“She didn’t fit the criteria to actually be sent fully to Neverland,” Chambers explains. “Then he says, however, you can be something else. You can be this fairy, you can be magical, but you’ve got to help me. I’ll give you this pixie dust, and if you keep taking it…Every time you are good, you can have some.”
Chambers described Tinker Bell not as a villain, but as a deeply layered and troubled character. “This is not a villain at all,” he continues. “This is an extremely layered character. This is someone that’s really troubled. They’re brainwashed. It’s Stockholm Syndrome. They’ve been in this situation for years and years and years. They don’t know any other way.”
Most actors in the audition process didn’t deliver those nuances, but Green’s subtleties enhanced all of those facets and landed her the job. “She just really tapped into it where no one else was,” he says. “As soon as I saw the audition, I was like, ‘Yes!’”
But fans don’t seem too happy with new Tinker Bell look. They have expressed significant criticism of the character’s new portrayal. On Reddit, users shared harsh feedback: “This flick just sounds dumber every time I hear about it.”
“I have given the first two movies in this ‘universe’ a pass because they’ve ultimately been harmless but HOOOOOOLY SHIT! Tinkerbell being a transgender woman who is groomed by Peter Pan, helps him abduct children and is addicted to Heroin is well past harmful. That’s like full mask off hate fueled stereotypes that I am sure conservatives will be happy about once they hear about it.”
“‘Childhood ruined’ edginess meets groomer panic transphobia. I’m struggling to imagine a movie I would want to watch less.”
The latest entry in the Poohniverse follows Wendy Darling’s journey to rescue her brother Michael from Peter Pan’s clutches. Along the way, she encounters a twisted version of Tinker Bell, who is addicted to what she believes is fairy dust.
